Daily Devotions
This well-known Japanese proverb is usually illustrated with three monkeys: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” It is interesting advice, but impossible to follow. We may avoid speaking evil, but we cannot shut our eyes and ears to every evil of the world around us. Among those who trust in Jesus there is greater wisdom. Sheltered by the strong and gentle care of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we can firmly state in the words of the psalm, “I will fear no evil.”
Our Shepherd leads us through life “in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” We try to place our feet in the footprints of the Shepherd, not to preserve our own reputations, but to honor His holy Name. As the world watches, we seek to bring glory to Jesus’ reputation. The righteous path we follow will eventually lead “through the valley of the shadow of death.” For many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, this shadowed valley may mean persecution, imprisonment, and even martyrdom. Even if our paths lead through different shadowed valleys, following Jesus means bearing the cross as He did. Our Good Shepherd laid down His life for us, His sheep, and took up His life again. Our crucified and risen Shepherd tells us what to expect as we walk on His path, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mathew 16:24b).
Following Jesus means denying ourselves, dying to self and our selfish desires. It is not always something we want to do and it is not easy to do. In repentant honesty, we must admit that we do not like traveling along that particular path, but the Shepherd goes before us so we keep walking. The Shepherd uses the rod and staff of His Word to protect and guide us. In the Word we are reminded that our sins of selfishness and pride are forgiven. Satan—sheep-stealer that he is—cannot use accusations of sin to separate us from the Shepherd. The comforting staff of God’s Word, the promises of His steadfast love and faithfulness, keep us on the narrow path. When we come to that final valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. Jesus has been there before us. In Baptism, He already brought us through death into life that will never end and no shadows can hide us from His love. Our Good Shepherd gives us His promise, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).
WE PRAY: Jesus, help me to walk without fear as I follow in Your footsteps. Amen.
This Daily Devotion is by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you have a favorite proverb or saying that gives you good advice? What is it?
2. What does God promise us when we go through times of great distress, when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”?
3. Why does Scripture so often portray God as our Shepherd? What do shepherds do for their sheep?