Why are You Sheepish?

Sunday, April 13, 2008 ( from WAU.org)

Meditation
John 10:1-10

The sheep in Jesus’ parable recognize and run to the shepherd’s voice because they know without a doubt that they are safe with him. They know that no harm will come as long as the shepherd is with them. While the hired hand is only doing a job and so is not committed to the sheep, the shepherd has invested his whole life in his flock. He simply cannot abandon them because he loves them too much.

Clearly, Jesus was not discussing sheep just because they are gentle, pleasant animals! He used their innocent, trusting nature to demonstrate the qualities that will enable us to know him more. The sheep will follow only the shepherd’s voice because they know that he has their concerns at the forefront of his heart.

We live in a time when many voices call out to us in the course of a day. Work beckons us, as do our responsibilities at home, the desire for wealth, the temptation to power, and the supposed need for greater and greater security. While some of these voices are good and others not so good, any one of them can quickly gain the upper hand and distract us from the one Voice we should never ignore: the voice of Jesus.

When we give the other voices top priority, we end up distant from the Lord—and that can lead us to feeling distracted, tired, and unproductive. By contrast, when we are listening to Jesus, his words comfort us and give us peace. He helps us with our responsibilities to work and family, and he helps to quiet the voices of fear, anxiety, or resentment. Granted, all of our questions and concerns won’t disappear overnight. Some may never go away. But Jesus promises that like the good shepherd, he will never abandon us. He will walk with us and guide us with his wisdom.

“Jesus, I surrender my heart to you. You know everything I need. Help me to hear your voice above all the others. I want to cling to you alone, my Good Shepherd.”

Acts 2:14,36-41; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 Peter 2:20-25