We Need the Good Shepherd

Micah 7:14a (NET) - Shepherd your people with your rod,

The prophet begins the chapter by lamenting the sins of the people.

He follows this with words of vindication.

He concludes with a prayer in which he asks for a shepherd.

The prophet understood how important it was for us to have a shepherd.

Scripture makes many comparisons between people and sheep.

But these comparisons are not necessarily flattering.

I personally know people who currently raise these animals.

The insights they have shared with me have proven quite revealing.

To begin with, sheep are basically helpless.

Left unprotected, they easily fall victim to predators.

Sheep are also quite stubborn.

They have minds of their own and will stray if permitted.

Sheep also need attention.

To thrive, sheep require direction.

To be honest, people share these same characteristics.

Jesus understood this and explained this to his disciples.

John 10:4 (NET) - When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Like sheep, we are basically weak.

We also have a stubborn streak a mile wide.

Left on our own, we wander and stray.

But we were meant to thrive.

But to do so, we, like our wooly friends, need a shepherd.

Fortunately for us, Jesus is no ordinary shepherd, He is the Good Shepherd!

Because of this, we are truly blessed.

Jesus knows us intimately; better than we know ourselves.

We know His voice and respond to it.

Regardless of where life takes us, Jesus lovingly guides us every step of the way.

Life does not have to be dangerous, chaotic, and meaningless.

We just require the Good Shepherd.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 28, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, February 4, 2022

Epiphanies Continue

Matthew 2:7-11 (NET) - Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.” After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

According to the Christian calendar, January 6 is known as Epiphany.

Some regions refer to it as Three Kings Day.

But regardless of the name used, the day represents one thing.

Epiphany means the manifestation of Christ to the world.

But the Bible does not lay out a specific timetable of events.

Through the course of time, human beings have managed to fill in the blanks.

But we have not necessarily done a decent job of filling them in.

To begin with, people assume there were three wise men because there were three gifts.

In fact, the wise men were probably part of a large group.

The journey for them was both long and dangerous.

A small party would likely have been preyed upon by bandits or robbers.

We also assume that the wise men arrived on the night Christ was born.

The nativity scenes put on display typically depict them that way.

In truth, Jesus was likely around the age of two when they arrived.

This is most clearly explained in Matthew’s gospel.

Matthew 22:16 (NET) - When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men.

Despite the uncertainties and errors, one thing is remarkably clear.

The manifestation of Christ we celebrate was foretold in remarkable clarity centuries before.

Isaiah 60: 6 (NET) - Camel caravans will cover your roads, young camels from Midian and Ephah. All the merchants of Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing praises to the Lord.

Just like the wise men of old, people still seek Jesus.

The wise men had the light of a star to guide them to the right place.

Today, those of us who are fortunate have found Him.

We have a responsibility to help guide others who still seek Him.

With God’s help, we too can be a light that guides others.

1 John 1:7 (NET) - But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

We continue to celebrate Epiphany.

But individual epiphanies still occur.

That too is cause for celebration!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 14, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, January 21, 2022