“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep 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
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Andy Dalton hasn’t always been a starter or the biggest star on his teams in the NFL, but the Texas Christian University graduate is always a humble shepherd to his family, teammates and community wherever he goes. During his career, Dalton’s played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. He was the starter for several years in Cincinnati, but he’s been a reliable backup for the most part for the past four years on several teams.
His role on a football team doesn’t dampen his determination to be an example to those around him. He is faithful to complete his assignments and please the ultimate Shepherd above.
In the Bible, David was a shepherd before he was a king. In Israel, shepherding was some of the most important work in Bible times. David probably started working with sheep around age 12 and continued for several years. Sheep provided meat and wool for the people and their skin was used to make parchment, which was like paper for writing Scripture on scrolls and other valuable writings. Sheep also served a vital purpose in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, as worshippers were supposed to bring their best livestock as a worthy blood sacrifice for a pledge for God to forgive sins.
Sheep are helpless animals and need constant care. If a shepherd simply left sheep out in the wild without a fence, they’d wander and easily get lost. These livestock don’t have a good sense of direction and aren’t able to distinguish between poisonous water and good, fresh water. Lost sheep often get caught in briars or walk off cliffs if left unattended. And to be honest, we are like sheep and often make bad decisions. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). We are prone to wander.
Little David did well as a shepherd by protecting the sheep from lions and bears. But Jesus is the best Shepherd. When sheep are outdoors and see coyotes, wolves, eagles, bobcats, bears and snakes, they run in fear unless the shepherd is nearby to protect them. Sheep and shepherds were familiar to everybody in ancient times, and Jesus compared Himself to a shepherd who risks his life to save the sheep. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
While Jesus spoke directly to the people around Him, He was also sure to share His plan to rescue all people from different parts of the world and in every time period. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:14-16). If we study these words, we’ll see how Jesus has been thinking about us before we’re even born and will do everything necessary to save our souls if we believe.
Though God presents the best path for now and eternity, the devil tries to trick us into wandering away from God like straying sheep. We all listen to Satan sometimes. However, we need to see that the devil doesn’t love us and he only wants to destroy us. The devil tells us many slick lies and that gets us in trouble when we’re deceived. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The devil wants to rob us of eternal joy by giving us cheap, temporary pleasure that won’t last.
Don’t get tricked into believing and following the lies of the enemy, but fully trust and follow the Good Shepherd and you will have life to the full!
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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