Embodying the Love of the Good Shepherd

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Divine Identity as the Good Shepherd

Jesus' declaration as the "Good Shepherd" in John 10 is a profound revelation of His divine identity and mission. Unlike the hired hands who abandon the sheep at the first sign of danger, Jesus knows His sheep intimately and is willing to lay down His life for them. This self-sacrificial love is a model for us to follow, emphasizing the importance of knowing and caring for those entrusted to us. Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd is not just about fulfilling a role but about embodying a deep, sacrificial love and commitment to the well-being of His flock. [38:13]

Ezekiel 34:11-12 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."

Reflection: In what ways can you embody the self-sacrificial love of the Good Shepherd in your relationships today? Who in your life needs to feel this kind of care and commitment from you?

Day 2: The Need for True Shepherds

The story of Ezekiel 34 serves as a reminder of the failures of past leaders and the need for true shepherds who seek the well-being of their flock. God rebukes the leaders of Israel for failing to care for their people, setting the stage for Jesus' mission to gather and care for the scattered sheep. Jesus fulfills this role, offering a love that is both protective and nurturing. This historical context highlights the importance of leadership that genuinely cares for and protects those under their care. [45:14]

Jeremiah 23:3-4 (ESV): "Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on a leadership role you hold, whether in your family, workplace, or community. How can you ensure that you are a true shepherd, genuinely caring for those entrusted to you?

Day 3: The Joy of Finding the Lost

The parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15 highlights the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, illustrating the relentless pursuit of Jesus for those who are lost. This is a call for us to actively seek and welcome those who are outside the fold. Jesus' mission is not just about maintaining the status quo but about reaching out to those who are lost and bringing them back into the fold. This relentless pursuit is a model for us to follow in our own lives. [54:05]

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Reflection: Who in your life is currently lost or outside the fold? How can you actively seek them out and share the joy of Jesus' love and salvation with them today?

Day 4: Excelling in Our Calling

Our personal experiences, like the early career story shared, can serve as reminders of the difference between merely fulfilling a role and truly excelling in our calling. We are called to be "good" in whatever we do, reflecting the character of the Good Shepherd. This means going beyond the minimum requirements and striving to embody the love and commitment that Jesus shows to His flock. It is about finding joy and purpose in our work and using it as a means to serve others. [43:27]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: Think about your current job or role. What steps can you take to move from merely fulfilling your duties to truly excelling in your calling, reflecting the character of the Good Shepherd?

Day 5: Sharing the Good News

As disciples, we are invited to share the good news of Jesus' love and salvation with others, stepping confidently into spaces where God's character is misunderstood. Our mission is to embody and share the love of the Good Shepherd with those around us. This involves not only speaking about Jesus' love but also living it out in our daily interactions. By doing so, we can help others find peace and reconciliation with God. [58:01]

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."

Reflection: Identify a space in your life where God's character is misunderstood. How can you step into that space today and share the good news of Jesus' love and salvation through your words and actions?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound declaration of Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" from John 10. This statement is not just a metaphor but a revelation of the character and mission of Jesus. The "I am" sayings of Jesus, rooted in the divine name revealed to Moses, underscore His divine identity and purpose. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, contrasts Himself with the hired hands, who abandon the sheep at the first sign of danger. Unlike them, Jesus knows His sheep intimately and is willing to lay down His life for them, embodying a self-sacrificial love that seeks to protect, nourish, and care for His flock.

Reflecting on my own journey, I shared a personal story from my early career days, illustrating the difference between merely doing a job and truly excelling in one's calling. This ties back to the idea of being a "good" shepherd, as opposed to just any shepherd. The Good Shepherd is not just about fulfilling a role but about embodying a deep, sacrificial love and commitment to the well-being of the sheep.

The narrative from Ezekiel 34 serves as a backdrop, where God rebukes the leaders of Israel for failing to care for their people. This historical context highlights the failure of past leaders and sets the stage for Jesus' mission to gather and care for the scattered sheep. Jesus' parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15 further illustrates His relentless pursuit of those who are lost, emphasizing the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

The imagery of the Good Shepherd is a call to action for us as disciples. We are invited to embody this self-sacrificial love and to seek out those who are lost, sharing the good news of Jesus' love and salvation. This is not just a message for us to receive but a mission for us to live out, bringing others into the fold and helping them find peace and reconciliation with God.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus as the Good Shepherd reveals His divine identity and mission, contrasting with the hired hands who lack genuine care for the sheep. His self-sacrificial love is a model for us to follow, emphasizing the importance of knowing and caring for those entrusted to us. [38:13]
2. The story of Ezekiel 34 serves as a reminder of the failures of past leaders and the need for true shepherds who seek the well-being of their flock. Jesus fulfills this role, offering a love that is both protective and nurturing. [45:14]
3. The parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15 highlights the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, illustrating the relentless pursuit of Jesus for those who are lost. This is a call for us to actively seek and welcome those who are outside the fold. [54:05]
4. Our personal experiences, like my early career story, can serve as reminders of the difference between merely fulfilling a role and truly excelling in our calling. We are called to be "good" in whatever we do, reflecting the character of the Good Shepherd. [43:27]
5. As disciples, we are invited to share the good news of Jesus' love and salvation with others, stepping confidently into spaces where God's character is misunderstood. Our mission is to embody and share the love of the Good Shepherd with those around us. [58:01]
** [58:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:55] - Introduction to the "I Am" Series
[36:32] - The Significance of "I Am"
[37:12] - Jesus as the Good Shepherd
[38:13] - The Good Shepherd's Sacrifice
[39:23] - Personal Journey and Calling
[41:12] - Lessons from the Call Center
[44:54] - The Emphasis on "Good"
[45:14] - Ezekiel's Rebuke of False Shepherds
[47:29] - Characteristics of a True Shepherd
[49:38] - Jesus' Self-Sacrificial Love
[51:23] - The Story of the Mother Bird
[52:33] - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem
[54:05] - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
[56:16] - Our Call to Share the Good News
[59:06] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Sermon Clips

I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep The Hired Hand is not the shepherd and does not own the Sheep so when he sees the wolf coming he abandons the sheep and runs away then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it the man runs away because he is a Hired Hand and cares nothing for the Sheep. [00:38:13]

I am the Good Shepherd I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the Sheep I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pin I must bring them also they too will listen to my voice and their shall be one flock and one Shepherd. [00:38:39]

The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again no one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own accord I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again this command I received from my father the word of God for the people of God thanks be to God. [00:39:41]

Woe to you Shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves should not Shepherds take care of the flock you eat the curds clothe yourselves with the wool and Slaughter the choice animals but you do not take care of the flock you have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured you have not brought back the Stray or searched for the lost. [00:46:06]

So they were scattered because there was no Shepherd and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals my sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every High Hill they were scattered over the whole earth and no one searched no one searched or looked for them God words to Israel through Ezekiel think about that. [00:46:39]

I once heard a story about a wildfire that happened out west where there were some folks who uh in the midst of the recovery firefighters and and other folks who had put out a section of the fire and there was smoke coming from the grounds and they were walking through trying to put out uh any fires that may spring up again. [00:51:23]

They noticed the carcass of a bird right at the base of a tree and one of the folks went up and kind of kind of kicked at at that carcass and out went three or four or five chicks who were still alive now we know that Quail do this sometimes grous will do it but they were surprised to see that many tiny chicks come out of that. [00:51:43]

The mother had not she shielded them from the flames in doing so gave up her life so that they could live that image that story reminds me so much of what Jesus I think is trying to convey to his audience and to the Pharisees there's a a neat passage from Matthew that I I with this story in mind. [00:52:15]

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them doesn't he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it and when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home what a beautiful image a Shepherd going out seeking the Lost putting that sheep on his shoulders. [00:55:39]

Not dragging him along not pulling him putting it on his shoulders to carry the Sheep back to be with the flock and when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home not only that then he calls his friends and neighbors everybody around him everybody that he knows and says Rejoice with me I have found my lost sheep. [00:56:06]

Jesus then says I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent beautiful image of what it means for our God the nature of our God to be a Shepherd self-sacrificial love but also a seeking after those who aren't with us. [00:56:39]

Jesus sacrificed himself for us so that we could have eternal life but he also bids us forward to go after those who are lost to bring them into the fold see that's his desire that's your call as disciples that's what I want to invite you to do as you leave this place there are so many people who think they know who God is. [00:57:32]

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