DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GOOD SHEPHERD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known by My own." (John 10:11-14)

Do you ever feel like you are being taken advantage of? People sometimes use and abuse you? You are their friends as long as you are useful to them. But as soon as you are no longer useful, they abandon you.

Hirelings are those who use and misuse. You are only in their flock if you benefit or advance their agenda. Unfortunately, even spiritual leaders can fall into this trap, who love the sheep only as long as they advance their career or ministry.

Jesus is not like that. He does not use you and then abandon you. The opposite is true – He laid down His life for you.

I wonder if Jesus might have had in mind the prophecy of Ezekiel 34. Ezekiel was writing about shepherds of Israel – the priests and leaders who were responsible for the care of the people. Instead, they fed themselves but not the flock (vss. 2-3). They did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick, nor bind up the broken, nor seek those who strayed. They did not protect the flock from the beasts. They pushed them around, butted all the with their horns and scattered them (vs. 21). In that scenario, God said, "I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them – My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd" (Ezekiel 34:23).

Jesus is that good shepherd. He feeds, He strengthens, he binds up the broken, and protects them from the savage beasts. He is no hireling. He laid down His life for His sheep.

What a privilege to be a sheep in Jesus' flock. He is not a hireling. He does love and care for His sheep.

Love, Dad