Courageous
All this writing about sheep reminded me of a Bible study I once facilitated called “Courageous.”
One of the questions in this study asked the following questions, “How far would you go to protect your loved one? Would you stop at nothing to protect your child?
Of course, everyone’s answer was yes.
We go into protection mode
When we think about our children, and the possibility of them in danger or being hurt, our gut instinct is to save them. We go into protection mode.
In the movie, “Courageous,” the first scene shows a thief trying to steal a pickup truck. The owner of the vehicle grabs the side of his truck, holding on for dear life as the thief attempts to take his truck.
As you are watching the scene unfold, you don’t know about the baby in the backseat of the truck. While the thief attempted to steal his truck, the owner was trying to save his baby. It wasn’t that he cared so much about his truck, it was more about the precious cargo inside the truck that mattered. The owner risked life and limb to save his baby son.
Why do I bring this up?
In the last few blogs, we’ve been talking about Jesus, sheep, and the good shepherd. One of the things Jesus points out to us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them.”
There’s a difference
A hired hand is going to watch the sheep for money or other goods, not necessarily because he has a real interest in them, a vested interest. The shepherd, on the other hand, does it for love.
The thief in the movie didn’t care that there was a baby in the backseat of the truck. I suppose one could argue he didn’t know. It’s a movie, so we have to use our imagination. The father did care because it was his child, his flesh, and blood. Like the father who owned the truck, Jesus is committed to us; He is not merely doing a job. Jesus is committed to loving us and even laying down his life. As he said in verse 10, the thief is out to kill and destroy.
How we respond makes a difference
When you see the thief coming and seeking to destroy, what will your response be?
Are you willing to commit your life to Jesus?
Or are you more like the hired hand who runs away because he doesn’t care what happens?
It isn’t easy to stay committed, but it’s what Jesus did for you and me. We have the perfect example in Him.
Let’s pray
Father, my prayer today is for all those who are struggling. Father, I pray they will call out to you and seek your voice, Lord. Many of your sheep are hurting. I pray that each one struggling today would feel your presence in a mighty way. I pray they know you personally Lord, you who are their protector. In your Son’s name, I pray, Amen.
In His Service
Jeanette Duby, The Teaching lady
#satan #jesus #bible #sheep
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