Today’s devotion highlights the role of the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, who contrasts two types of shepherds: the good shepherd and the hireling. The good shepherd sacrifices himself for the sheep, while the hireling flees when danger arises to protect himself. We are truly fortunate to have Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd. Amen!

Bible Reading of the Day
AM – 1 Chronicles 17-19
PM – John 10:1-21

𝕿𝖎𝖙𝖑𝖊: 𝕵𝖊𝖘𝖚𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕲𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕾𝖍𝖊𝖕𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖉
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟎:𝟏𝟏 𝐊𝐉𝐕
𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒅: 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒑.

The word “𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉” comes from the Greek kalos (καλός), meaning loveliness. A shepherd’s duty was to caring for his sheep, even willing to sacrifice his life if needed. If a lamb died, the shepherd had to show proof of its death. Of all Christ’s “I am” titles, the most touching is Jesus as “the good shepherd.” Being a shepherd was a tough and demanding role.
This is because sheep are…
• Basically, non-human animals (none of which are in the circus) are unintelligent. Sheep have the smallest brains of any mammal of their size and walk on four legs..
• Prone to wander— “All we like sheep have gone astray.” The shepherd must constantly watch over them. (cf. 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟗:𝟑𝟔).
• Can be stubborn—“🆆🅴 🅷🅰️🆅🅴 🆃🆄🆁🅽🅴🅳 🅴🆅🅴🆁🆈 🅾️🅽🅴 🆃🅾️ 🅷🅸🆂 🅾️🆆🅽 🆆🅰️🆈.”
• Defenseless—The shepherd continually watched over the flock, defending it from wolves and wild animals. He also stayed alert to protect the flock from thieves and robbers.
• Sheep cannot groom themselves and need the shepherd to clean them. (𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝟒:𝟐 ).
• Sheep rely entirely on the shepherd.

No one loves you as much as Jesus Christ does. He showed His deep love by sacrificing Himself for you. Jesus voluntarily gave His life for His followers, acting as their Substitute. He cares for them because they were bought with His sacrifice; they belong to Him. Jesus serves as the perfect example of ministry, especially for a true pastor responsible for God’s flock in a local church.

A shepherd regularly leads his flock from the front, guiding them—sheep do not lead him. A man might be called a “good” shepherd but not necessarily a “great” one. Conversely, a “great” shepherd can exist without being the “chief” shepherd. Jesus embodies the roles of the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the CHIEF Shepherd—The Top Shepherd, The Head Shepherd, The Supreme Shepherd. He is the Shepherd of shepherds.

Each local congregation’s pastor acts as an under-shepherd serving the Chief Shepherd. Do you recognize the Shepherd? Are you part of His flock? Your answer to this question will determine your eternal destination—whether in Heaven or Hell. I invite you to accept Jesus as your Shepherd.