Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be there grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
– Ezekiel 34:11-16
Devotion
These are God’s words of comfort to the children of Israel in their captivity. Israel’s shepherds failed to lead them in the ways of God. Therefore, God declares Himself to be their Shepherd. In these two verses, God says, “I will…” twelve times! “I will search for my sheep…look after them…rescue them…bring them out…bring them into their own land…pasture them…tend them…tend my sheep…search for the lost…bring back the strays…bind up the injured…strengthen the weak…shepherd the flock with justice.” In all these statements, God initiates the activity. The image of God we see here is that of a leader who cares for, protects, and leads the flock into safe pastures.
The Big Question
In John chapter 10, Jesus refers to Himself as the “good shepherd”. He says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s words in Ezekiel chapter thirty-four. Jesus came into this world to seek lost sheep and bring them into His spiritual flock. He goes before His flock and leads them into the ways of the Father. Do you know the Good Shepherd today? Are you part of His eternal flock? Do you recognize the voice of the good shepherd and are you submitting yourself to His leadership?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.