IN SPITE OF YOURSELF
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” ~John 10:11~
There are two ways in which we are like sheep:
(1) Without a shepherd to guide us, we get into stuff that hurts us. God has no “super-sheep.”
The Bible says: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed. . . . . We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (see Isaiah 53:6).
Like sheep, sometimes we are clueless and headstrong, choosing things that turn out badly unless God intervenes.
(2) Sheep aren’t smart enough to hide their shortcomings.
Indeed, their willingness to be what they are is one of their strengths.
F.B. Meyer said, “I used to think God’s gifts were on shelves, one above the other, and the taller we grew the more easily we could reach them. I now find they’re on shelves one beneath the other, and it’s not a question of growing taller but stooping lower.”
Solomon said, “With the lowly (humility) comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). S ince God already knows everything about you, why bother pretending? Plus, the things you refuse to acknowledge and deal with just stunt your growth and limit your usefulness to God. That’s too high a price to pay!
God values truth and He expects you to be truthful with Him, other people, and yourself.
Paul writes: “Express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]” (Ephesians 4:15 AMP). And James adds: “Confess your [faults] one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
We all have our pluses and minuses ( +/-) But when you give God all that you are (and aren’t!), He will bless and use you in spite of yourself.
O Lord God, we are YOUR sheep, You are our Shepherd. We will follow You until the end of days and beyond. Lord we are not perfect, but what we want is a life full of You. A life where YOU will lead us and teach us every second of the day. We thank You Lord for all You do for us. Watch over us today and all days, keep us safe from all harm, lead us not into temptation. O Father, when we do something that is not pleasing unto You, convict our hearts of it so that we can repent and follow You again.
This world is not easy to live in, but we try, we mess up. . . But knowing that You are a forgiving Lord and will accept us back into Your fold is what makes You stand above all else. We love You and we honor You today and everyday from now until the end of time and beyond. In Jesus name we pray Amen.
"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD"
There are two ways in which we are like sheep:
(1) Without a shepherd to guide us, we get into stuff that hurts us. God has no “super-sheep.”
The Bible says: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed. . . . . We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (see Isaiah 53:6).
Like sheep, sometimes we are clueless and headstrong, choosing things that turn out badly unless God intervenes.
(2) Sheep aren’t smart enough to hide their shortcomings.
Indeed, their willingness to be what they are is one of their strengths.
F.B. Meyer said, “I used to think God’s gifts were on shelves, one above the other, and the taller we grew the more easily we could reach them. I now find they’re on shelves one beneath the other, and it’s not a question of growing taller but stooping lower.”
Solomon said, “With the lowly (humility) comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). S ince God already knows everything about you, why bother pretending? Plus, the things you refuse to acknowledge and deal with just stunt your growth and limit your usefulness to God. That’s too high a price to pay!
God values truth and He expects you to be truthful with Him, other people, and yourself.
Paul writes: “Express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]” (Ephesians 4:15 AMP). And James adds: “Confess your [faults] one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
We all have our pluses and minuses ( +/-) But when you give God all that you are (and aren’t!), He will bless and use you in spite of yourself.
O Lord God, we are YOUR sheep, You are our Shepherd. We will follow You until the end of days and beyond. Lord we are not perfect, but what we want is a life full of You. A life where YOU will lead us and teach us every second of the day. We thank You Lord for all You do for us. Watch over us today and all days, keep us safe from all harm, lead us not into temptation. O Father, when we do something that is not pleasing unto You, convict our hearts of it so that we can repent and follow You again.
This world is not easy to live in, but we try, we mess up. . . But knowing that You are a forgiving Lord and will accept us back into Your fold is what makes You stand above all else. We love You and we honor You today and everyday from now until the end of time and beyond. In Jesus name we pray Amen.
"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD"
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