During the season of Lent our devotions have been written by members of Faith Lutheran Church. Today’s writer is Terry Amundson.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own 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 do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.” John 10:11-18
“The good shepherd”, what a comforting image that portrays. God loves us unconditionally. He loves us not because it is his job, but because we are his children.
I cannot help but think about the love I have for my three daughters and five grandchildren. This love exists no matter the challenges that are presented or the daily tasks to be accomplished. I love my daughters and grandchildren, not because it is my job as a mother and grandmother, but because they are mine.
Just as Jesus ran to his flock when the wolf came, we, as parents and grandparents, run to our children and grandchildren in their time of need.
God also spoke of loving people that are ‘not of our fold’. We are taught to love God and to love our neighbor. This is the hard part. I love my children and grandchildren, but can I always love my neighbor?
As Christians, we are called to evangelize and spread the Gospel. What could be a better way to do so than to love others? We are reminded that the love of God is eternal. We are called to love others as he loves us. God loves all of his sheep.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us all to be good shepherds in our daily lives. Help us to live by your example. Help us to love others as you love us! May you be a constant reminder of how you gave your life for us so that we can be forgiven and follow you all the days of our lives. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
March 17, 2016 at 3:16 pm |
This is appropriate for St. Patrick’s day since he spent time as a shepherd before he went back to Britain.