A Shepherd’s Heart 牧者的心肠

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Dexu Xia

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Jul 5, 2026, 3:04:09 AMJul 5

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I myself will tend my sheep. Ezekiel 34:15

Today's Scripture. Ezekiel 34:1-16

Today's Insights Like the prophet Ezekiel, Isaiah also depicts God as a shepherd: “He tends his flock like a shepherd” (Isaiah 40:11). In Jesus, God appeared in the flesh as both a shepherd and a lamb. John says, He’s “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) and “the good shepherd” (10:14) who laid down His life for us. Revelation 7:17 beautifully pictures Him as both a lamb and a shepherd: “The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ” Today, Jesus, as our Great Shepherd, offers us salvation and living water that will last.

Today's Devotion “A baby deer is caught in our fence!” Heather called to her husband, Tim. He gently set it free, but its mother was nowhere to be seen. That afternoon Tim saw a herd of deer emerge from the woods and graze nearby. One doe seemed especially alert. Wondering if she was the fawn’s mother, Tim looked up a recording of a fawn’s distress cry on his mobile phone and played it loudly over the speaker. The doe began to follow him, and he led her to where the fawn was nestled away. The fawn immediately began to nurse; freedom had been obtained, mother and baby were reunited—all thanks to Tim’s gentle shepherding.

God is even more intentional in caring for His people and providing the freedom we need. The people of Israel had stumbled in their sin and were trapped in exile in Babylon. Yet God promised, “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them” (Ezekiel 34:11). Because Israel’s leaders had allowed them to be “scattered” (v. 12), God said, “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays” (v. 16).

Believers in Jesus see God’s ultimate care in His search and rescue mission for us. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,” Jesus said (John 10:11). When we were lost in our sins and captive to them, He chose to rescue us at great cost. On this day and all days, freedom is precious. Let’s celebrate the Good Shepherd, who has set us free!

Reflect & Pray

What does God’s shepherding heart mean to you? How might you thank Him for His care today?

Good Shepherd, thank You for loving me and setting me free. By James Banks

我必亲自牧养我的羊。(以西结书 34:15 )

今日经文：以西结书 34:1-16

今日洞见：正如先知以西结一样，以赛亚也描绘神为牧者：“他必像牧人牧养自己的羊群”（以赛亚书 40:11）。在耶稣身上，神以肉身显现，既是牧者，也是羔羊。约翰称祂为“神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的！”（约翰福音 1:29），也是为我们舍命的“好牧人”（10:14）。启示录7章17节优美地描绘了祂既是羔羊又是牧者的形象：“在宝座中的羔羊必牧养他们，领他们到生命水的泉源那里。”今天，耶稣作为我们的大牧者，赐给我们救恩和永活的生命水。

今日灵修：“一只小鹿被困在我们的栅栏里了！”希瑟向丈夫蒂姆喊道。蒂姆轻柔地把小路从栅栏的羁绊中解救出来。但是他却不见鹿妈妈的踪影。那天下午，蒂姆看到一群鹿从树林里出来，在附近吃草。其中一只母鹿显得格外警觉。蒂姆猜想它可能是那只小鹿的妈妈，便在手机上查找小鹿求救的叫声录音，并通过扬声器大声播放。那只母鹿开始跟随蒂姆，他把领着母鹿来到小鹿藏身的地方。小鹿立刻回到母鹿身边，开始吃奶；它重获了自由，母子也得以团聚，这一切都归功于蒂姆那慈爱的牧者心肠。

神在看顾祂的子民并赐下我们所需的自由时，更是用心良苦。以色列人因犯罪悖逆，被掳流亡巴比伦。然而神应许说：“我必亲自寻找我的羊，将它们寻见”（以西结书 34:11）。由于以色列的领袖任凭百姓“四散”（12节），神说：“我必寻找失丧的，领回被逐的”（16节）。耶稣的信徒在祂为我们展开的“搜救行动”中，看到神那极致的眷顾。耶稣说：“好牧人为羊舍命”（约翰福音 10:11）。当我们迷失在罪中并受其辖制时，祂不惜付出重大的代价，决意将我们救赎出来。无论何时，自由都弥足珍贵。让我们一同颂赞那位赐予我们自由的好牧人！

反思与祷告神那牧者般的心肠对你而言意味着什么？今天，你会如何为祂的眷顾向祂献上感谢？好牧人啊，感谢祢爱我并赐我自由。