Today Daily Devotional

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Trusting Sheep
. . . I lack nothing. — Psalm 23:1 This is a bold statement for the psalm writer to make: “I lack nothing.” Is this a statement that you can make too? This psalm is attributed to King David, so we might think, “It’s easy for a king to say that he lacks nothing!” (David’s story is found in 1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2.) David wasn’t born into royalty, and he sometimes experienced a great deal of want and danger. He was also well acquainted with sheep because he was a shepherd when he was young. He even understood wandering firsthand because at times he had to be drawn back from paths that would lead to misery. David is not writing here about having enough stuff. He is testifying to how deeply he trusts the Lord to guide him onto the right paths and to provide for him along the way. I imagine David recalling times when he was in danger and how God provided him with friends, allies, and spiritual care when he needed these things most. This was true when David’s life was in danger. It was also true when his very soul was in peril because he stole another man’s wife (2 Samuel 11-12). David declares that the Lord his shepherd is worthy of his trust, and he does this with boldness because the Lord has never let him down. In what ways has the shepherd provided for you in your journey with him? Thank you, Good Shepherd, for your constant, loving care. Grow in me a deepening sense of trust in your provision. Amen.
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Acting Sheepish
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way. . . . — Isaiah 53:6 Sheep need particular care. They need to be led to still waters because they can’t drink safely from fast-moving streams. They can’t predict when the grass will run out and when they need to move to new pastures. Often there are holes in the ground that dangerous snakes can shelter in, and sheep do not suspect that they could be bitten. We need special care as well. We can’t always predict the dangers and challenges ahead; nor do we always make wise choices. We don’t always pace ourselves well when it comes to managing our resources and our day-to-day living. We are prone to burning out and tuning out—both of which can lead us astray. Of course there are other ways in which we are like sheep. We are easily distracted by anyone or anything besides the shepherd. So many shiny and alluring things draw our attention. Social media, TV, shopping, and other things can distract and lead us into pastures that may look inviting but don’t satisfy. The psalm writer reminds us that when we follow the Lord our shepherd, we will lack nothing and that his provisions are soul satisfying. But we are responsible to follow. In what ways might you have acted sheepish lately? Forgive us, loving Shepherd, when we don’t keep our eyes on you. Push away any distractions that keep us from fully following you. Amen.
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Feeling Sheepish
The Lord is my shepherd. . . . — Psalm 23:1 If the Lord is our shepherd, then the psalm writer is thinking of us as sheep. I’m not so sure that I like being compared to a sheep. Sheep are not very bright. Humans are far more intelligent. For better or worse, we have more capacity for directing our own lives. So how are we like sheep? I wonder if the psalm writer might be highlighting how vulnerable sheep are. They have few defenses from predators, for example. And sheep are not very good at finding their way or finding the best grazing areas. They need a shepherd to bring them to good pastures and to find good water to drink. We humans are vulnerable too. We often lead hurried, distracted lives that wear us out and leave little room for the things that will refresh our souls. We don’t always choose what is good for us. We can get confused about who our enemies are, and we often forget that our major enemy, the father of lies, will tell us anything to make us believe that we are unworthy of the shepherd’s attention and care. We fall for the lie that there isn’t enough to go around and that we need to get what we can before it is all gone. The deceiver makes us think that we are alone on the journey. We are vulnerable, and we need a shepherd. In what other ways are we like sheep in need of a shepherd? We need you, Good Shepherd. Help us to entrust our vulnerabilities to your wise care, knowing that we cannot manage our lives well on our own. Amen.
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Finding the Right Guide
The Lord is my shepherd. . . . — Psalm 23:1 There are many times when I have needed the help of a guide: an IT expert to help me with my computer; a nurse to help me understand a diagnosis; a biking guide to help me set the pace on unfamiliar roads. Some of these guides have been more helpful than others. A lot depended on how much they knew me and cared for me as a person. When I reflect on how the Lord shepherds or guides us, I am struck by two important things. First, the one who has made us and knows us intimately is the one who invites us to follow him as our shepherd. He knows our names. He understands our strengths and weaknesses. He knows where we will find the journey challenging and where we will find joy. This gives us comfort and hope for the journey. Second, the Lord knows and cares for all of his sheep—every one of us. While some of us will follow similar paths, they will not be exactly the same, and many of us will follow quite different paths. But each one of us can say, “The Lord is my shepherd. . . .” because he is leading each one of us, and we will lack nothing for the journey he takes us on through life. Everyone who follows the good shepherd can have the same confidence that they are being guided well by the one who loves them best. In what ways does the Lord’s guidance help you? Thank you, Lord, for being our guide. We pray that you will continue to make your will and way plain to us. Amen.
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Last Rites
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39 Dana, 20, from Wisconsin, ended up on Chicago’s South Side after she stopped taking her prescribed medications. She began self-medicating with street drugs and eventually found shelter with us for a while. Tragically, Dana died alone in an abandoned building from a fentanyl overdose. Each year we hold a service for people who couldn’t have a proper funeral or were unclaimed at death. Members approach the microphone, sharing memories of God's goodness in the lives of the departed. I’m reminded of a Jason Isbell lyric: “Hardly even know my name anymore/ When no one calls it out, it kind of vanishes away.” So, we say the names of these people, remembering we are saved by God’s grace and joined together by God’s Spirit. After the names are spoken, we are reminded from Scripture that nothing in this world—neither death nor life nor anything else—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Near the front, Tyesha cradles her son Hakeem while Layla and Brooklyn sit beside her. Brooklyn’s eyes widen as I proclaim, “For you, Dana, Jesus Christ came into the world; for you, he died; for you, he conquered death. Dana, child of God, you are part of God’s family.” For you, dear reader, Jesus Christ came into the world, died, and conquered death. You are part of God’s family. Lord, thank you for making us part of your family, adopted in love forever in Jesus. Amen.
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