The shepherd
Day 399, Sunday, Sept. 14
John Chapters 9 and 10
The image of God as a shepherd who cares for us, his sheep, occurs throughout scripture, including most of John 10.
“I am the good shepherd,” Jesus says. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
He speaks of how he knows us and we know him…but how does that come to be?
The relationship between sheep and a shepherd, like any relationship between humans and animals, takes time to develop. It is trust built on many small interactions until the sheep understands that this human is a source of care and safety.
The relationship between us and Jesus is built the same way.
We build trust in him by daily praying and following. It is the little evidences of his faithfulness that allow us to wholly trust him in times of major crisis or in times when we feel far away from him.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Job 34:5-15
“Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice. Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’ Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’
“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

Prayer focus
Build our trust, O Lord, that we may lean on you at all times as our source of care and safety.