"Baaaa! The life of a sheep."



Further Study: John 10:11-18
"Remember - You are Sheep"


Reflection:

The 23rd Psalm

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
---



Further Study:

The scripture in the sermon for this week and the 23rd Psalm are sort of two sides of the same coin. Jesus talks about the life of the shepherd. Through knowing the sheep, loving the sheep, and caring for the flock to the point of laying down his life for them we find that the life of the Shepherd is filled with hard work and devotion.

But in the 23rd Psalm we learn of the single minded following that the sheep embodies. The sheep is provided everything through the Shepherd. Even in the midst of terror, crisis, and tragedy the sheep still look to the protection of the Shepherd.

This week's further study focuses on figuring out where we are in the scripture of the 23rd Psalm. Take some time to read through the Psalm and find where on the journey you are with the Shepherd. Maybe you are at the beginning of the relationship. You are still learning how the Shepherd provides for all of your needs. Or possibly you have journeyed with the Shepherd for a while and have begun to realize that the Shepherd provides places of restoring and formation for you (the still waters and green pastures). Or maybe you are in the valley of the shadow of death focusing on the Shepherd and trusting his 'rod and staff' for protection. Or even more terrifying maybe you have just sat down to dinner and realized that the dinner guests are your enemies. But maybe the dinner is over and you have mended bridges and found a new way to love those whom you used to call 'enemies.' Lastly, maybe you are in the place of 'goodness and mercy' and are enjoying it.

The journey friends is not linear... there is going to be more than one valley of the shadow of death, more than one green pasture, and still waters. There are more tables and more enemies than we know. But always before, during, and after the journey the Shepherd is with us, guding, and caring for us as his flock.

Think where you are on the journey and pray for the Shepherd's continued care. This is at the heart of what it means to be a sheep in the flock of Jesus. This is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple.

E-mail me and let me know where you are in your journey with the shepherd.




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