Devotion/ Do you know the Shepherd?

The old man knew the Shepherd

Two men were asked to recite the 23rd Psalm to a large group of people. One was a professional actor and speaker. He studied many years learning how to speak before large audiences. He knew exactly how to emphasize certain words and how to compel people to listen to what he said.

The other speaker was an old man who was never educated. He spent many years working on his small farm trying to raise enough food to keep his family fed. He was now old and tired, with barely the strength to speak loudly enough to be heard by everyone.  

First the great speaker arose and delivered a forceful and moving recitation of the famous psalm. He received a kind applause from the audience.

Next the tired old farmer got up and recited the words of the psalm in his hoarse and shaky voice. As he spoke the last few words, the crowd of people rose to their feet and gave him a standing applause.

Later an interviewer asked the great actor and speaker why the old farmer did so much better than he did. “I think the answer is quite simple,” he replied. “I might have known the psalm, but that old man knew the Shepherd.”

Do you know the Good Shepherd?

How well do you know the Shepherd?

John 10 speaks of Jesus as our Good Shepherd and our relation to him. In verse 14 it says: “My sheep know me.” Verse 16 says: “They too will listen to my voice.” And verse 27 says: “They follow me.” These words remind us that to have a relationship with the Good Shepherd we must know the Shepherd, listen to what he has to say, and follow him. But how can we do that?

We get to know the Shepherd better when we read the Bible and when we talk to him in our prayers. We listen to Jesus when we hear what he tells us in his Word. And we follow him in our daily lives of worship and praise, and in obedience to him.

John 10:14 shares these comforting words of Jesus: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — and I lay down my life for the sheep.”  Those are good words to remember as the Holy Spirit leads us to know our Shepherd better each day.

By Reynold R. Kremer