THE
GOOD SHEPHERD
Twelfth
of twelve devotions in Advent Parallel
Bible Study series
Isaiah
40:11, John 10:11-18
Isaiah
40:11: “He tends His flock like a shepherd;
He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; and gently
leads those that have young.”
Notice that “tend” is part of the
word, tender. Jesus admits in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Jesus predicts
His death to whomever was listening.
The lesson, linked below, contrasts the
shepherd who owns the sheep to a hired hand.
Christians around the world are also part of Jesus’ flock. For He continues in John 10:16, “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.” Believers must be careful not to
follow a “hired hand” because false teachers only want to lead people
astray. Let’s follow only the Good Shepherd, to whom
we belong.
Fourth grader, Miguel, is eager for Christmas. Part of his family from Mexico plans to Skype
a long-distance live feed to his immediate family, who immigrated to the United
States last year. They’ll be able to see
and talk to one another on Christmas Day!
Miguel’s family in Mexico are also Christians—sheep in a different pen
that Jesus was referring to.
Christians around the world are part
of God’s family, whom Jesus shepherds.
But, we don’t always get along with each other. Our differences are for Jesus to sort out, like
when Miguel has trouble at school.
Sixth graders, Kal and Lemmy,
approached Miguel at recess one day. Kal
snatched the baseball Miguel was tossing to himself, and tossed it to classmate,
Lemmy. “Why don’t you go back to Mexico
for Christmas—and never come back here!” Kal challenged Miguel. “We don’t want Mexicans to come and apply for
citizenship. We want you to go back to
where you came from!”
Miguel was confused. “I thought you liked me, Kal. We go to the same church!”
“Yeah, we do.” Kal admitted. “But God’s White, not brown!”
Have you encountered racism this
ugly? How would our Good Shepherd like
us to respond? Jesus said in John 13:34,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all men will know that you
are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Take Home Nugget
Ezekiel
34:22 says, “I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.”
Thank You, Jesus for tending Your flock.
Thank You for judging the sheep who
mock!
J.D.
Griffith
A personal, private lesson
experience with our staff
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