John 10 | Guiding

December 10th, John 10

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:14-15

Life is not always easy. This is one of the reasons we must allow our souls to feed on the Bible every day. Because when life is not easy we are prone to doubt, prone to not trust God, and prone to go our own way. For me, life has been great outside of one sector. I’m not in the vocation I feel like I was called to be in. I certainly trust God but I would be lying if I said I was necessarily happy about it, or hopeful. It feels like with each rejection comes more questions… “did I hear him right?” “Have I wasted the last 7 years of my life?”

Life is not always easy. My “suffering” is quite small and light compared to many. But the question remains, what does this text have to say to us when we are doubtful that God is at work?

The Good shepherd

I can say in my own quiet time this morning with this text, God was gracious to remind me of a few things. First, He laid down his life for me. Jesus in chapter 10 tells a crowd that He will lay his life down for His people. Have you ever thought about that? You might think the people killed Jesus. You might think God the Father sent Jesus down to earth and He had no choice in the matter. But right here, Jesus is saying “I could stop this whole thing if I wanted… and I’m choosing to lay down my life.”

Jesus, in love, gives up his life for you and I. I am forgiven. I am saved. I am born again because of Him. Who am I to complain about my present circumstances?

Not only this, but this proves the extent that Jesus is a good shepherd. So if He gives up His life, should I not trust that He has my best interest at heart? That means, if waiting is what is best for me, I wait. It means for you, God is well aware of what He is doing in you through your difficult circumstances. Can we approach Him as our good shepherd who knows which pastures we need today?

He is for us, not against us.

Trusting Him,

Josh.