The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: Hebrews 12:1-11 / Psalm 55

“Your rod and your staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

The Shepherd Corrects Us

A shepherd uses his rod to nudge the straying sheep back in line and into safety of the flock. The shepherd knows that his sheep need discipline and correction. Sometimes our Lord must correct us. We wander into foolish places where we have no business going. We lose ourselves in self-interest. We stray into places fraught with danger. We linger, sometimes even wallow, in the dark valley of despair.
Jesus Christ, who dies for us and rose again, is always there for us. His saving graces nudges us back into the green and pleasant pastures of His love. He forgives our waywardness and puts us back into the care and protection of His mercy. The Good Shepherd gives us His Word to correct us. The mirror of His Law shows us that we have sinned and strayed from the path of righteousness. The grace of God in Jesus Christ then shines brightly in our hearts and lives to comfort and forgive us. The mercy of the Good Shepherd invites us to follow Him, and the protection He provides draws us close to Him.

O Lord, show me my sins, and through Your mercy make me one of Your own. Amen.

February 17, 1997