Our New Testament lesson (John 10:1-21) gives us the wonderful picture of our Good Shepherd. 

What a blessing it is to listen to his voice every morning and follow him. We are precious to him, so precious that he is willing to lay down his life for us. 

By God's grace, you and I are the lamb in Jesus' arms. Safe in his love and care. From that place of safety, we look for the "other sheep" of which Jesus spoke... eager for others to experience the safety and peace we find in the Savior's arms. 

This morning I pray that only Jesus' voice reaches into the depths of our hearts. Satan's thieves often try to climb into my heart, convincing me that I am unredeemable, that I am unloved. Holy Spirit, let Jesus be the only Gate into my heart. Let me hear and believe only what comes through that Gate. Grant that blessing to each of my friends who are reading this today. Grant us to see Jesus clearly as the One who gives us life to the full. 



The Old Testament lesson (Ezekiel 15-16) presents the other half of our stained glass window. Notice in the picture above that two of the sheep are focused on the Good Shepherd, the third is looking away. The Good Shepherd loves even those who are turning away from him.



In Ezekiel 15, the people of Jerusalem think they have escaped God's judgment. Ezekiel uses the worthless wood of a grapevine to picture them. Even worse... they are a vine burned at both ends... surviving Nebuchadnezzar's first capture of the city in 597 BC. But because they continued in their sin, they haven't escaped at all... the burned stick is useless... they will be consumed by God's judgment. Jerusalem was destroyed 11 years later in 586 BC. 



In graphic imagery Ezekiel 16 describes the spiritual prostitution of the southern nation of Judah. He calls them to turn back to him. Yet notice how the chapter ends. Despite their guilt, the LORD still promises to be gracious. "Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you" (Ezekiel 16:60). 

This is amazing love of the Good Shepherd for sheep like me who so often look away from him. May He draw each of us back to himself. Amen.