Good

"And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever," Psalm 23:6.

It's about the shepherd, not the sheep. The shepherd, not the sheep, precludes shortage. Refreshing rest comes by the shepherd's guidance, not by the sheep. The shepherd, not the sheep, leads to the right way to live. Why does the shepherd do this? Because that's his way. Persistent courage in the face of deadly danger grows from the shepherd's care, not from the sheep's nature. Deep consolation roots in the shepherd's discipline, not the sheep's resilience. Overwhelming assurance arises from the good shepherd's instruction, not from the sheep's goodness. The shepherd, not the sheep, endows bounty in the face of opposition. The shepherd, not the sheep, blesses overabundantly. But doesn't the sheep need to obey? Well, duh!, yes, of course! What kind of a question is that? Else, the sheep got eaten by the wolf. Everybody knows that. Anyway. Back to the point: The shepherd, not the sheep, guarantees home.

As we meet today with a brother or sister, we glory in our Shepherd's love that leads us safely home. And, together, we give thanks for the Shepherd who laid down his life to the wolf for us.