We are the people he watches over, the flock under His care. Ps 95v7
It is He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of His pasture. Ps 100v3
I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me… John 10v14
You are His sheep. I know, it doesn’t seem profound. Until you realize a sheep does nothing for its caretaker-shepherd. Nothing.
The sheep doesn’t work for his shepherd or feed him. He just simply is.
The pressure’s off, friend.
You don’t need to try to earn God’s love, you already have it! His love isn’t dependent on your performance. There’s nothing you can do that would make him love you any more or any less. He loves you just because He loves you.
You’re not first and foremost His servant or His slave. He doesn’t just want your work and what you can do for Him. He doesn’t withhold His love based on your actions. You are His CHILD, His beloved. And He loves you NO MATTER WHAT.
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children.” (1 John 3v1)
“I no longer call you slaves… now you are my friends.” (John 15v15)
His friend. He just loves your presence. He loves to be with you. He’s not scolding you or telling you to do more. He’s not covering you in shame for not loving more people, or praying more often, or whatever your “list” of shoulds say you should do. He’s not like that.
He’s the GOOD Shepherd.
Kind, caring, close, loving.
And here’s more good news: if we are a sheep and He is our Shepherd, that also means:
HE is our Care Taker.
HE is our Provider.
HE is our Protector.
HE is the one who guides us and leads us to the best places for us.
A sheep could do none of that for themselves. I know you’re having a moment inside. I know I did when He first whispered this to me.
It’s hard to believe He could be this good. It’s hard to swallow that He actually doesn’t want anything from us. I know all the verses about our “works” or our faith looking like something, or the “shoulds” like caring for the orphan and poor, these are flooding your mind. Those come as an overflow of a relationship with Him. He’s not requiring your work first and foremost.
First and foremost you are His child. You are His friend. You are His beloved. You are His sheep.
He will sit with you forever, doing nothing but loving you and being with you if that’s what you need.
He hasn’t chosen you for what you can offer Him.
He chose you because He LOVES you. Can you just take that in for a moment? He is happy to sit with you forever and love you, even if you never do anything for Him. He doesn’t have hidden motives or an agenda in mind. He’s just actually that good.
The pressure’s off, friends.
He’s not just looking for your work. You don’t have to do more to get His love.
He’s not expecting you to pray for more people, to give more money, to be better, act better, or do more things.
He just wants YOU.
He thinks YOU are important.
He just wants to be with you.
He just wants you to be His sheep, His child who will receive all He has for you… His care, provision, protection, love, guidance, and help.
He is for you.
He loves you.
And He really is that good.
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