Pastor's Corner
A message from Pastor Andy Ross...

Past Devotionals

Ever Lead a Flock?! - December 9, 2005

Read Jeremiah 23:1-6.

Dear friends,

Check out Jeremiah 23:1-6. You'll see there that God has "issues" with bad shepherds!

Think about it:

• When in your life did you ever try to take care of or lead some animals? some people? How did that go?
• What does God plan to do about this problem in Jeremiah’s time?
• The new King’s name will be “the Lord our Righteousness” — what is the meaning of that for you?
• Jesus used this “shepherd” imagery a lot! You can see for yourself in John 10:7-16. How is Jesus a shepherd for you? for your church? for this world?
• How does that give you hope?
• How does that change the way you live?

Rocky was our first dog. Just barely.

He was a German Shepherd puppy that could barely stand up ... because he was malnourished and weak as a dust ball ... because he was suffering the aftereffects of parvo, a canine disease. Living in seminary and being poor we couldn't afford to purchase him. And yet the dog, barely surviving in the pet store where I worked, wouldn't ever look "good" enough to be sold to a real customer. The pet store owner gave Rocky to us, in hopes that just maybe he might survive with our TLC.

He didn't. But we gave Rocky a gift. In the few weeks of his difficult life - we gave one unlovable puppy the gift of excellent care and ownership, the gift of love.

And, amazingly, he gave us the gift of his love in return. Sure, it was the weakest tail wag a dog could ever offer - but there it was, whenever we entered our apartment or called his name. When we would help him stand up, or encourage him to eat ... his goal was to lick our hand and simply respond.

Jesus came to love us. Unlovable, scraggly, sin-diseased us ... to help us up, to get us on our righteous feet. Today - respond to your Good Shepherd! Wag a tail. Say a prayer - show God how glad you are that he came for you!

God's blessings to you this day!

Andy Ross
Pastor