Prodigal Prayer Day: 3&4. The Door & The Shepherd
In all the uncertainties of life, especially when you love a prodigal, and especially in this pandemic time, we seek something or someone solid, dependable, a sure foundation. We have all that in Jesus, whose name is I AM. Over the next few weeks, leading to the June 2 Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day, we will discover seven ways Jesus is all we need—the seven “I AMs” He called Himself. (Read John 10.)
Josh with a newborn lamb
Our son Josh, the former prodigal, is a part-time farmer. For awhile that included raising sheep. He had a sheep pasture and a sheep pen: overnight in the pen, days in the pasture. Because he and his wife both were away at day jobs, they acquired a guard dog.
The Anatolian Shepherd was bred as a livestock guard dog. The farm was in a wildlife area, and the dog did his job protecting the sheep from coyotes, bears, bobcats. But one day Josh returned home to find a dead ewe, killed by her protector. No one knows what happened, but the shepherd was surely not a good shepherd.
Perhaps this story gives you a little understanding of John 10:1-15. Here we find two I AM statements from Jesus that offer us security and confidence.
I AM the Door
Jesus tells us: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I AM the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:7-10)
Jesus warns us that the enemy has sent thieves and robbers to steal his sheep. He is the “door” or “gate” to the sheep pen—the safe place. Our prodigals have been stolen, or tempted to leave, by the enemy of their souls, whose plan is to destroy them. But Jesus offers life—abundant life.
We too are often tempted to follow the enemy’s tricks, though more politely than our prodigals. Yet, how we live with our shepherd—living and loving like Him—will often help to woo our wanderers back to the true door to the sheep pen.
I AM the Good Shepherd
But Jesus says more: “I AM the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I AM the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:11-15)
Jesus is not just our shepherd; He is our good shepherd. What does a shepherd do? We get a beautiful picture of that in Psalm 23: He leads us, feeds us, provides water, gives us rest, protects us and rescues us.
And He lays down His life for us. A shepherd may have to do that for his sheep. David, a shepherd boy, tells of killing a bear and a lion to protect his flock. He was willing to lay down His life, but God gave him strength.
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, was willing to lay down His life for us. And He did—to become our Savior. He is a Good Shepherd to us who love a prodigal, but also to each of those prodigals, offering to love and provide for and protect our loved ones.
And He has given us the assignment to be His undershepherds for those we love. Sometimes our God does an amazing miracle to restore our lost lambs. Often, though, He lets them experience the results of their choices, but is always waiting with open arms to welcome them home. And often He works through us to woo them back and welcome them home.
Jesus is the Door for the Sheep—for us and our prodigals. And He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life—for us and for our prodigals.
A prayer for this week: Thank You, Jesus, for being such a Shepherd—to care for us, provide for us, protect us and lay down Your life for us. May we be willing to do the same for those we love.
Following the Good Shepherd,
Judy
P.S. It’s just three weeks until June 2. We have many joining Prayer for Prodigals, requesting prayer, adding names to the list. Do you have friends or family we can pray for, or who should be invited to join us?
You can write to PrayerforProdigals to join our prayer community. Or you can give us first names to add to the list to be prayed for on June 2—the Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day.
May this song bless you.