The Shepherd Goes Before Us

Slowly I pull the covers off of my body, and begin the routine of getting up. My half groggy stare catchs the pale blue light coming in from the window that sits in front of my bed. Moving my arm with my other free hand, I pick up the nummed object and shake it up and down a few times. There is no movement, and all I can do is raise it up and let it fall. After about a minute the feelings begin to prickle back into my arms. I'm tired and it's morning, time to get up and face another day of life. For some reason, this day seems to be very monotinous. I walk over to my desk and pick up the Bible, forcing myself to kneel, I breath out a quick prayer to God and begin to read. "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate.." I continue to read and then finish the chapter, setting the Bible back on the desk. Then I throw some clothes on and head out the door to work. All through the day the monotony continues, and I begin to wonder, if what I had this morning was really worship or some ritual. As the day drags on, I begin to feel condemned and depressed. Still I struggle through the day, until finally I can take no more, and I humbly ask God for help. I then feel impressed to read the reading I read for my devotional. All day today I have been full of a feeling of inadequacy. Just feeling like I just don't have the energy to keep going. Now as I sit here typing, I realize the problem. I read my devotional, but I did not "Read" it. I spent all that time in the morning just trying to read my devotional, just so I could check it off the list. But this evening as I READ my devotional a new thought entered.

John 10: 1 says "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber."

I now realize that I was trying to climb up some other way, instead of letting Jesus be my sufficiency. In all honesty I did not spend time pouring my heart out to God. I know that this seems like a small thing, but without this, that is all that reading the Bible is. We need to be honest about how we are feeling and how things are going in our lives for Jesus to be able to talk with us.

In John 10:9 Jesus says

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture"

Jesus promises us that when we come to God through Him, we can find pasture. Good pasture is a must when you are a shepherd, it means there will be food.

In John 10:11 Jesus says

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

It is interesting that this is said. Friend, Jesus says He lays down His live for us. He is willing to save us so we can be with Him forever.

The question is now begged: Who is your Shepherd? Who gently leads you, if it isn't Jesus, then you will be disapointed. Please allow Jesus to be your Shepherd, He wants to be, He doesn't care what you have done! It doesn't matter! You can be saved! Jesus wants to save You for His kingdom, and someday soon, when He returns He wants to take us all home to live with Him forever, where there will be no more sorrow or tears, but only Joy and life forever. Why don't you ask the the Divine Shepherd in your heart as I ask Him in mine, to be Your Shepherd:)