John 10:11 Sheep are extremely loyal, and for good reason. They require a Shepherd to lead them to green pastures and bring them to fresh water. The shepherd understands their vulnerabilities, he knows and loves them, embracing whatever it takes to keep them safe. They trust the Shepherd with their lives as they have no way of protecting themselves. He’s proven himself to be their provider and their protector and in return, as they have nothing else to give, they surrender to him… They surrender everything. The very foundation of our faith is belief and trust in the One Who saves, the One Who protects and provides for us. Jesus gave us the story about the sheep and the Shepherd so we might understand this … ‘relationship’ between us. It’s not complex, all the sheep do is follow Him, trusting in Him for whatever it is they need. For us, Maybe it’s the warm embrace of love and compassion or we’re hungry and thirsty for His provision or we require His protection to remove all fear and anxiety… or maybe we just need Him. We can create a distance between us and the Shepherd. Maybe the distance makes it hard to see or hear Him. Maybe we’re just … lost. Do we realize what He would do, how far He would go in order for us to be safe? The distance can be measured from one nail scarred hand to the other. Our knees hit the floor with a distinct thud. We’re grateful as we hear Him tell us there isn’t anything He wouldn’t do to save us or bring us back to Him. We ask for forgiveness for doubting Him, for wandering off…He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
