The Good Shepherd: Devotions Inspired by Psalm 23Sample

Follow the Leader

By Tom Lane

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (ESV)

Have you ever been a thoughtless follower—led by what everyone else is doing without thinking about risks or ramifications? I remember how a conversation went with my parents after I had done something foolish. They started with, “Why would you do that?” And I replied, “Because everyone was doing it.” As you might guess, their comeback was, “If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you jump too?” The probable answer was yes—I most likely would have followed the group without someone wiser to lead me!

In Psalm 23, David compares us to sheep being led by a shepherd. He writes, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” The calming tone of this message reassures us that our Shepherd, Jesus, takes care of our needs, gives us rest, and leads us.

Though sheep are not humans, we do have some similarities. Sheep are by nature followers. They follow each other around with no thought of danger or awareness of their surroundings. If a sheep at the front of the flock wanders off a cliff, it’s likely the rest of the flock will follow right behind. That makes their shepherd’s role as leader critical for their survival.

Without a shepherd, it is hard for sheep to find pasture for grazing and the water they need to sustain life. Although their bodies are composed of nearly seventy percent water, and drinking water is essential to their bodies functioning properly, sheep will not drink from fast-moving water. Because of their heavy wool coats, running water poses a serious risk for them to get swept away and drown. That’s why they need their shepherd to lead them to a slow-moving stream or fresh pool of water to satisfy their thirst.

Usually humans can survive three to seven days without water, but a lack of it can affect our bodies and thoughts in strange ways. Water is essential to life. When Jesus encountered the woman at the well in John 4:14, He told her that He would give her living water and she would thirst no more. In John 7:38 Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Like sheep, we regularly need quiet time and a still place with few distractions to drink the living water our Shepherd provides for us.

One more thing you need to know about sheep is, like us, they learn to hear and distinguish their shepherd’s voice. The shepherd constantly talks, calls, and sings to them so they will learn his voice and follow him. In Hebrews 5:11–14, we are reminded spiritual growth includes learning God’s voice; we need to train by constant practice to discern between good and evil. And in John 10, Jesus tells us that His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.

Do you hear the Shepherd’s call, His voice, and the song He is singing over you today? Follow Him! He will satisfy your thirst and give you rest.

PRAYER

Thank You, Lord, for being my Shepherd. I ask You to lead me today in the way You want me to go. Bring me to the place of Your full provision so that my thirst for life and significance might be quenched. Help me hear You speaking today so I may follow You in all Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

• Pray for God to lead us in the way He wants us to go.
• Pray for living water to fill your life and satisfy your soul.
• Pray for clarity and sensitivity to hear Jesus, our Shepherd’s voice, today.

Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me today?

MEMORY VERSES

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:2–3