Cooperate but Don't Help

S - Ezekiel 34:15-16, 31 (NIV): "As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.  … I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.  …  You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"

O - The lost, injured, weak and scattered all need OUTSIDE help. They're in no position to bring about the change wanted and needed.  The Lord is not a shepherd by default but by desire.  He loves the sheep because he loves them.  Are we willing to believe him?  Will we yield to him, his presence and his ways or continue to insist on our own "well intended" self-interventions?

A - The Lord is my shepherd and he is unoffended that I am so easily lost, injured, weakened and scattered.  He's not mad about it at all. He's the Shepherd because he wants to be.  He doesn't need my help, I need his. What he wants is my cooperation, not my help.  Jesus tells us that the more we try and keep our lives we lose them. But if we will lose them to him he will find, save, heal and keep them.  I'm going to purposefully lose mine so he will keep it; I'll lay mine down so he will take it up and make of it everything it's already in his heart to do.  Today is going to be a beautiful day of sheep-like surrender … unto the life that is really life.

P - Lord Jesus,

Thank you for wanting to be my/our shepherd.  I admit you want my cooperation but not my help.  I admit that I'm not in control and you always are.  I admit that your ways are not like mine … they are not only way higher they are awesomely better.  I admit that you are calling me to yourself to follow and that you'll take care of the transformation I want and need. I say yes to you!

Loving you back,

Steve