Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – The Perfect Shepherd (1/11/24)

Jesus, the Good and Perfect Shepherd, always acts with integrity and can be fully trusted. He doesn’t scatter or harm his sheep, but personally interacts and calls each one by name.

John 10:1-5 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Jesus leads His sheep in the right direction. He doesn’t always hold and carry each sheep and doesn’t have any of His sheep on a leash, but He is always there to protect, call and lead. As His sheep, we have the responsibility to listen and follow, even through difficult terrain. In order to do that, we must know His voice. To know His voice, we need to hear it regularly.

How do you and I plan to hear Jesus’s voice regularly in 2024?  

Where might Jesus be leading you and me in a new direction for 2024?

Jesus, the Perfect Shepherd, personally loves us, cares for us as individuals and is always there to lead us!

Alice

To Be The Shepherd

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT

I am a huge Samuel L. Jackson fan.  I was watching the movie Pulp Fiction the other day, and marveled at the character named ‘Jules Winnfield’ played by him.  At various parts of the movie he quoted the Biblical verse of Ezekiel 25:17. He said:

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.  Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.  And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.  And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Now this sounds all good, but if you know your bible, you know this is not accurate at all (only the last part “And you will know …”).  However, I have learned over the years that if you dismiss something entirely, you might miss something important.  As I watched the final scene of the movie, I gained a level of understanding for the ending.  It is summed up best by Jules talking about an epiphany he had to a man named Ringo, who initially attempted to rob him but now found himself at Jules’ choice of mercy.  In that moment, Jules is trying to understand what the verse meant.  He tells the attempted robber, “The truth is you’re the weak, and I am the tyranny of evil men.  But I’m trying, Ringo.  I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd.”  This hit me because it at times describes a part of our spiritual journey so well.  We are all in this world, and at times, we will find ourselves part of its craziness and insanity trying hard to be the shepherd to others who have lost their way.

We must remember to represent the shepherd to others as Christ represented us.  While the scene focused on Ezekiel 25, I found myself gravitating to the message of Paul to the Corinthians.  Today’s verses, which focus on serving men, was particularly more fitting than the wildly misquoted verse used in the scene because the conversation was between two criminals: a robber (Ringo) and assassin (Jules).  Jules in this case was becoming the converted, and now was extending grace onto Ringo.  Now this even to me seemed like a stretch, but by putting in the context of today’s verses, it made perfect sense.  Paul said of his being, “to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.” (I Corinthians 9:21 NKJV)  Today’s verses are not about changing to be like someone else to win them to Christ.  Instead, they are to help us understand others and see their views and perspectives to better speak to them.  You can speak to an alcoholic about Christ, but only someone who has struggled with alcoholism and been saved can truly relate.  You see?  Sometimes when you cannot relate, you are the messenger, but when you can and truly understand another’s challenges and struggles, it is then, like Jules, you are the message.

God grants us His grace so that we may be of service to others.  Paul clearly understood this as he wrote to the Corinthians.  Jesus did as well when He ordered the Great Commission to the disciples saying, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) Whether it be by action, deeds, friendship, or other relationship, we owe it to others displaying the love of Christ because Christ so loved us first.  Let us be the personal representatives that He has been for us.  Who can you show Christ’s love and grace to?  How can you be a better representative of Christ to others?  My prayer is that we remember the guidance of Christ, and through tough times, we try real hard to be the shepherd.  Amen.

Thursday Devotional: God Died

I’m deviating from where I was in our adoption story to share some recent developments…

I previously mentioned that the kids like “Go, Tell it on the Mountain” as one of their favorite Christmas Carols. Well, at dinner on Christmas Eve, Sarah (2 ½) asked me to sing the song about “God died.” I could not figure out which carol she meant. Most Christmas carols are about Jesus’ birth and not His death! (I eventually started singing different ones until she either gave up or decided she wanted me to sing “Angels We Have Heard on High.”)

Anyway, over the next few weeks she would bring up that “God died.” This led to several conversations about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins but not staying dead! So, recently, instead of randomly declaring “God died,” Sarah now randomly declares “God die on cross!” In fact, last night during our prayer time together, the one thing she decided all on her own to thank God for was “God die on cross.”

It’s exciting to watch the kids grow in their understanding of who God is and what He has done! Jesus laying down His life for us, so we don’t have to eternally die for our sins, is amazing!          
John 10:11-18 ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² 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. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ 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.”

Jesus did die. He died willingly, purposefully, submissively and lovingly for you and me. He’s the only One who could! Have you accepted His death in your place? If so, you are His sheep and will live forever with Him!  


As Sarah has said several times recently “I not die cross.” No, we don’t have to die for our own sins. Jesus already did!

Our Journey to Adoption, Part VII - Trusting the Shepherd

John 10:1-5  “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, always acts with integrity and can be fully trusted. He doesn’t scatter or harm his sheep, but personally interacts and calls each one by name. He leads His sheep in the right direction. He doesn’t always hold and carry each sheep and doesn’t have any of His sheep on a leash, but He is always there to protect and lead. As His sheep, we have the responsibility to listen and follow, even through difficult terrain.

In February last year, James and Sarah’s biological parents’ rights were finally terminated. However, more uncertainties surfaced. Their biological mom had a certain amount of time to appeal and she said she did appeal. In addition, an uncle was found that wanted the children and a former foster family expressed interest in adopting them. We appeared further down on the list of possible parents.

Since the children were now up for adoption, a new adoption worker and adoption organization were given their case. Knowing we were one of several couples in the “hat,” we nervously continued a new round of interviews, fingerprints, physicals, background checks, paper work, etc. All the while, we were growing in our love for the kids as we continued to do weekend respite care. It was a daily struggle to not let all the uncertainties weigh me down and stress me out. We kept praying for God’s will and direction while continually remembering that He’s the one who brought us together in the first place!

In what situation right now do you and I need to trust Jesus, our Good Shepherd, and follow His lead? He cares for us, loves us and is always there to lead us!

Alice