our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Nov 26, 2018, 1:31:39 AM11/26/18

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Dumb Sheep, Good Shepherd

As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. Ezekiel 34:12

My friend Chad spent a year as a shepherd in Wyoming. “Sheep are so dumb that they’ll only eat what is right in front of them,” he told me. “Even if they’ve eaten all the grass in front of them, they won’t turn to look for a fresh patch—they’ll just start eating dirt!”

We laughed, and I couldn’t help but think about how often the Bible compares humans to sheep. No wonder we need a shepherd! But since sheep are so dumb, not just any shepherd will do. Sheep need a shepherd who cares about them. When the prophet Ezekiel wrote to God’s people in exile, captives in Babylon, he compared them to sheep led by bad shepherds. Instead of caring for the flock, Israel’s leaders had exploited them, profiting from them (v. 3) and then leaving them for the wild animals to devour (v. 5).

But they were not without hope. God, the Good Shepherd, promised to rescue them from the leaders who exploited them. He promised to bring them home, put them in lush pastures, and give them rest. He would heal the injured and go after the lost (vv. 11–16). He would banish wild animals, so that His flock would be safe (v. 28).

Members of God’s flock are in need of tender care and direction. How blessed we are to have a Shepherd who is always leading us to green pastures! (v.14).

For more on the topic of spiritual growth, see christianuniversity.org/SF212.

Am I listening for the voice of my Shepherd?

笨羊和好牧人

牧人在羊群四散的日子，怎样寻找他的羊，我必照样寻找我的羊。-以西结书34章12节

朋友查德在怀俄明州当了一年的牧羊人。他告诉我：“羊真的很笨，它们只吃眼前的食物。即使面前的草全吃光了，也不会转头到其他地方去找草吃，而是开始吃泥土！”

我们都笑了，这不禁让我想起，圣经常把人比作羊，难怪我们需要牧人！但因为羊实在太笨了，不是任何牧羊人都能胜任，所以羊群需要的是一位真正关心它们的好牧人。当先知以西结将上帝的话告诉被掳至巴比伦的以色列民时，将他们比为坏牧人手下的羊群。这些以色列的统治者不牧养照顾羊群，反倒剥削他们、图利自肥（34章3节），然后任由他们被野兽吞吃（5节）。

但以西结也说他们并非毫无指望。上帝这位好牧人，应许要从剥削他们的统治者手中拯救他们，领他们归回故土，将他们安置在翠绿的草场上，并让他们得享安歇。受伤的，祂要医治；失丧的，祂要寻找（11-16节）。祂要驱逐野兽，好让祂的群羊能安然居住（28节）。

上帝的群羊需要温柔的看顾和引导。我们是何等有福，因我们的牧者总是领我们到青翠草地（14节）。

亲爱的上帝，感谢祢温柔地看顾我们！
虽然我们常不清楚自己到底需要什么，但祢却周详地供应我们一切所需。