Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over.
-Andy Gleiser
Can Jesus take care of you in
every situation? Will the Shepherd provide for you at every point along the
journey? One of the great responsibilities your Shepherd has is to defend and
protect you from the surrounding enemies in your life. Many things try to get
in and destroy you, but God is your Shepherd, protecting you from that which
would harm you. In fact, he is so good at protection, the sheep often have no
clue there was a predator nearby.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd who
laid down his life for the sheep. Are you finding that's a recurring theme this
week? The gospel once again is the answer to our fears and needs. On the cross,
our Shepherd kept the enemy of our soul at bay. He defended us from death and
then triumphantly defeated death for us three days later by rising from the
grave by his own power. If Jesus has the power to beat death for us, why do we
struggle trusting him to protect us from our enemies today?
It is in the presence of our
enemies that our Shepherd provides for us. All the predators can do is look on
as we enjoy the provision and food the Shepherd has given. Are you going
through a particularly difficult time right now? Are there problems at home? Do
you feel attacked at school or harassed for the sake of Jesus? Those hardships
will not be the end of you if you belong to the Good Shepherd. Your enemies are
powerless to harm you, and you will discover that the Shepherd turns your
difficulties into a banquet that makes you more strong and healthy. What an
incredible Shepherd you have!
Finally, note the care and
attention each sheep is given by Jesus. The oil removes parasites that can
damage and harm the sheep. The Shepherd intimately takes care of each of his
sheep. His blessings continue to pour into our lives that we have no more place
to store them. We are running over with blessings. The next time you wonder if
your Shepherd really cares, go back to the cross and see him hanging and dying
for you. You were on his mind then. Why would you be far from his heart now?
Food for thought: It is one
thing to survive a threat, but it is quite another to turn that threat into a
triumph.
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