It’s easy for Christians to fall into a rut: Church is a thing you do, prayer is a box to check, and faith seems far from “the real world.” This fall we let Jesus himself confront our ruts. “Do you believe this?” he asks (Jn. 11:26).
To believe in Jesus is to experience him. It’s more than logic, argument, and doctrine. It is intimate knowledge of God himself. This fall, let Jesus himself speak to you in his seven “I AM” statements in the gospel of John. How is he changing you? What response is he inspiring in you? To believe in him changes everything.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ponder
Today we ponder the I AM statement: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Why are darkness and night associated with sin and evil? What darkness are you experiencing in your life today?
Word
John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
Meditation: Shear-ly He Loves Me by Anna Jacob
Caring for sheep is no easy task. The shepherd must provide water, food, and shelter. The shepherd cares for the injured sheep. The good shepherd protects its sheep, even willing to fight off predators.
When I think of sheep, other than the noise and the smell, it is the thick wool that typically comes to mind. The sheep’s wool continuously grows, a potentially valuable commodity. Yet for the sheep, it can become a burden. During the winter, its wool serves the sheep well, but can cause the sheep to overheat during the summer. The heavy wool can be uncomfortable. Dirt matted in the wool can also create an unhealthy environment for the sheep. The solution then is to shear the sheep.
Who do you want doing the shearing?
In various parts of the world, sheep shearing can be seen as a sport. Watching these experts makes it easy to see that shearing requires confidence, skill, and strength. If I owned sheep, I would want an expert shearer to help me.
Whom better than our own creator to care for us?
With Jesus, we have the good shepherd. Not only is he knowledgeable and skilled to get the task done, he has already proven that he is willing to lay down his life for his sheep.
As a shepherd, it is important to know your sheep. Being familiar with us makes it easier for God to provide for us. He knows our struggles, our pain, making it easier for him to help us navigate this life.
This familiarity with God helps us to be in the right position. When a sheep is sheared, the shepherd positions the sheep on its rump with its belly exposed. Just like the sheep, we may feel vulnerable as we approach God with our sin. But with God, we can feel safe, knowing that he sent Jesus to relieve us of our sin.
In a world that is filled with disease, danger, and stress, it is good to have a shepherd willing to care for us through it all. And he hopes for us to learn and grow, to care for each other, and forgive our fellow sheep as well.
But the wool will grow back.
Sheep shearing typically happens once a year during the early Spring. Is it any wonder then that the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated in the springtime (at least in the Northern Hemisphere)? The time when sheep are relieved from their wool. The time we have set apart to celebrate when our good shepherd laid down his life. The time when he relieved the world from death.
Just as with wool, our sin will be a continuous burden for us. It can grow heavy on us. We need a good shepherd to help us lift our daily burdens.
But we do not have to wait until the spring to have our burdens relieved. We have a God who knows us and will continue to care for us daily. Through Jesus, he has paid the ultimate price and given his life for us.
Dear Lord, thank you for providing for us. You continue to be a secure place to bring our burdens to. Help us to lean into your care and trust in your knowledge. In your name we pray, Amen.
Prayer
Jesus, you said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Chase away the sins in my life that like to hide in the shadows. Dispel confusion and ignorance. Shine into the dark corners of my world today. Amen.
Benediction
May the blessing of the eternal God be upon us and upon our work;
His light to guide us,
His presence to strengthen us,
His love to unite us;
Now and always. Amen.