Sat Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

Now when Jesus says something once you need to hear it, but when He repeats it four times you better play close attention. He says four different times in these verses that He lays down His life for the sheep. That is what seperates an ordinary shepherd from The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd guards his sheep even at the cost of His own life. He will pay any price to get the sheep where they need to be.

You see sheep are totally defenseless. I mean almost any other animal on earth can defend itself in some way. Dogs can bite, cats can claw, skunks can spray, but sheep can’t do anything. They need protection.

Contrary to what we may think we are totally defenseless against the difficulties of life. Recently I had dinner with one of our congressmen up in Washington D.C. He lives up in the area of North Georgia where the tornado came through a while ago. He pulled out his cellphone and showed me one of the most incredible pictures I've ever seen. It was a picture of the tornado that looked as if it was literally right behind the elementary school where two of his children attend. Miraculously the tornado went behind the school and did very little damage. But he remarked about what a helpless feeling that picture gave him knowing there was absolutely nothing he could have done at that moment to protect his children.

Regardless of position or possessions everyday we are all helpless against those unexpected tornadoes that come up in our lives. There simply is no defense against that drunk driver, that deranged killer, that demonic terrorist, or that deserting spouse. Just like sheep we all need a shepherd that can get us where we need to be.

Now keep something in mind about shepherds and sheep. Shepherds cannot keep sheep from difficulty. There are wolves and bears that want to devour the sheep, there’s bad weather, there’s ticks, fleas, insects that want to sicken the sheep and weaken the sheep. The shepherd does not guard the sheep from difficulty, he guards the sheep in difficulty. The shepherd cannot prevent sheep from coming into contact with bears or wolves, but the shepherd can protect the sheep when they do.

Why do you think Jesus calls himself “The Good Shepherd”? That word “Good” doesn't just mean “nice” or “effective”. It literally means “One of a kind, in a class all by itself.” Do you know what a good shepherd always does for the sheep? He always does what is best for the sheep and sometimes that includes allowing the sheep to go through difficulties, trouble, and tragedy.

But because Jesus is The Good Shepherd there is one thing we can always know: no problem that is before me is bigger than the Lord who is above me.

Jesus is The Good Shepherd who not only gave His life for the sheep, He came back from the dead to prove that if He can conquer death, He can conquer anything.