We read in Mark chapter 14 starting in verse 22, “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”

²³ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. ²⁵ I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

²⁶ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike the Shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’

 As the death of Jesus nears, He reminds His followers of the verses in Zechariah chapter 13 starting in verse 7, where God says, I will “…strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs. ⁸ Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.  “But one-third will be left in the land. ⁹ I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

God is talking about those who call on the name of the Lord. Those who turn from their sin and instead turn to the Lord. Those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and believe on the name of the Lord to save their souls. In order to be purified from sin, God will bring them through the fire and purify them. Once you call out to Jesus to save you from your sin and lift you out of your shame, He purifies you.

When Jesus is struck down by the religious leaders, His followers scatter. They ran from Jesus, they ran from the religious leaders, they ran from the Roman soldiers, and they ran from their faith in Jesus. Even though they ran from Jesus, He did not run from them. Each time they sinned, He forgave their sins.

Jesus showed great love and compassion to them while on the cross. He asked for forgiveness for those that crucified Him, (Luke 23:34). He also asked one of the disciples to take care of His mom after His death, (John 19:26). While we may wander or even run from Jesus, He will never leave us or forsake us.

Let’s pray. Thank You for dying on the cross for us and loving us, exactly as we are. Help us to be an example of Your love to everyone we encounter. Lord, help us to grow in You each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

In the book of John chapter 10 starting with verse 1, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! ² But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

⁶ Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, ⁷ so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

In these verses, Jesus is telling us that He is the way to heaven, He is the gate. In John 14:6, “Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” God the Father loves all people, He also loves His Son, Jesus. For people who reject His Son, which means they do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, they will not be able to reach the Father and bypass Jesus. The path to the Father is through Jesus. Those who come through Jesus by their belief in Jesus will be saved.

The thief that Jesus refers to is the enemy, his sole goal is to steal and kill and destroy you and me. There are only 2 paths before every human, choose Jesus or reject Jesus. Not making a choice is a choice, it is the same as rejecting Jesus.

Jesus continues speaking in John chapter 10, verse 11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, ¹⁵ just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.”

Jesus has already given His life for you, yes, you. When you believe that, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the teacher who helps you learn about Jesus and the Father. The Holy Spirit helps you know Jesus, just like the Father knows Jesus and Jesus knows the Father. Praise God that we have a Good Shepherd who loves us so very much!

Let’s pray. Thank You for loving us, exactly as we are. Help us to be an example of Your love to everyone we encounter. Lord, help us to grow in You each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

In Luke 15:3 we read, “Jesus told them this story: ⁴ “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. ⁶ When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”

At one time, all followers of Jesus were that one lost sheep. We were that one that Jesus pursued in love until we finally said yes to Jesus.

 This time of year, we may be in contact with people that we do not interact with as frequently. Whether the gatherings are for a meal or to attend a play that family and friends are in, take this time to be aware of who the lost people are. As you move through crowds, celebrations, traditions or write letters and cards, pray about who is the one that Jesus wants you to reach out to about Him.

Each one of us has someone in our life that does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If you cannot think of anyone, pray for God to show you. Jesus will never stop seeking those He loves, which is every single person on this planet. Jesus was there when we were the one lost sheep, He will be there for them too.

Let’s pray. Thank You for loving us, exactly as we are. Help us to be an example of Your love to everyone we encounter. Lord, help us to grow in You each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Matthew 25:31 through 33 says, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.”

As followers of Jesus, we are God’s flock, we are His sheep. Jesus is our Shepherd and when He returns, He will separate those who belong to Him and are on the way to heaven with those who do not belong to Him.

What makes a sheep different than a goat?

Jesus explains in Matthew chapter 25 starting in verse 34. 

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

⁴¹ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ⁴² For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

⁴⁵ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Those who feed the hungry or thirsty or help a stranger or clothe the naked or visit the sick or those in prison are the sheep. May we serve our Lord as He has asked His sheep to do these things.

Let’s pray. Thank You for loving us, exactly as we are. Help us to be an example of Your love to everyone we encounter. Lord, help us to grow in You each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

In Matthew 10:16 Jesus says, “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”

What does this verse mean?

As we go through life, we will encounter people that want to hurt those who follow Jesus. They are like wolves, they want to hurt us, the sheep. But Jesus tells us to be harmless like doves. The word “harmless” is defined as lacking intent to injure. As followers of Jesus, we are to represent peace, goodness, light, love, and truth. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers in Matthew 5:9, He says, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”

James 3:18 says, “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Romans 12:18 says, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

The Holy Spirit is described as a dove in Matthew 3:16, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him”. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit in us providing us with the peace of Christ. As we go about our day, may we remember to follow the Holy Spirit and lead with peace in every interaction.

Let’s pray. Thank You for loving us, exactly as we are. Help us to be an example of Your love to everyone we encounter. Lord, help us to grow in You each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.