Loved by the Good Shepherd

Who helped you understand the love of Jesus? For me, it was a woman I’ll

call Amelia, a youth group leader I had at church. She provided

conversation, encouragement, water, food, and sometimes a place to sleep if

someone’s own home wasn’t a safe place. To be

honest, I remember her practical care more clearly than any Bible lesson

she ever taught, and her faithful care and listening ear helped me grow in

my Christian faith. She gave me a tangible picture of Christ’s love for me

and for the church as a whole.

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It is interesting that God seems concerned that His people are known for

their practical and even mundane care for each other: providing water,

clothes, and visits in times of suffering. That’s probably why, just a few

chapters before today’s passage, Jesus said that loving God and loving our

neighbor are not only the two most important commandments, but also the

motive behind every part of the Old Testament (Matthew 22:37-40).

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And Jesus fulfills the entire Old Testament. He embodies God’s love as the

Good Shepherd who cares for us, who are His sheep (John 10:11). In Psalm

23, we see how the Good Shepherd provides His flock with water, food, and

safe places to rEsther As Christians, we are called to follow His example by

caring for one another.

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So, even in the busyness of our days, let us remember that the gospel (the

good news of Jesus) is made clear not just by our words but also through

our love for each other. And this love comes from the wellspring of God’s

deep love for us as shown when Jesus died on the cross and rose from the

grave to rescue us from sin and death. It is only when we rest in the love

and work of our Good Shepherd that we may truly love others well. Aurora Scriver

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Who is a Christian in your life who has shown Jesus’s love to you?

Consider taking a moment to thank God for what they’ve done, and maybe

thank the person too!

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What are some tangible ways you can show Jesus’s love to your siblings in

Christ?

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What are some tangible ways you can show Jesus’s love to those who don’t

know Him yet?

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Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my

disciples. John 13:35 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Matthew 25:31-Matthew 25:46; John 13:35; Psalm 23