Chapter 6

Week 6 Devotional Thought:

The Shepherd walks ahead of his flock.

-John 10:4

Having lived in New Zealand for ten years I can tell you a little something about Sheep.  They are timid, weak, fearful, and sometimes cheeky!  When the work of ministry took its toll on me, I would often travel to the South Island to a place called Nelson, where I would spend time with my friends Alan and Stephanie Moore.  Alan is a fine shepherd, well, actually, he is a bit of a farmer as well.  Spending time in the fields adjacent to the Ranch House provided much needed respite.  One afternoon Alan asked me to repair a section of the fence on his property.  Giving minimal instruction he then left me to my own demise. (I am not good with my hands. I still can’t manage simple building tasks). Anyway, with my back turned toward the sheep, I began making the repairs.  Looking back now, I should have known something was amiss. I felt the hair on the back of my neck standing up, warning me of impending doom.  Failing to respond to the warning signs I suddenly felt a head butt from the charging ram.  I couldn’t believe it!  What had I done so offensive as to warrant a thump in the back. That sheep almost knocked me through the fence!  I was livid.  Later on that evening, I saw the culprit headed toward me in the shearer’s barn.  When he turned the corner to enter the shed I jumped at him to frighten him.  Pay back!  Immediately, the sheep fell over, motionless, dead. I had no idea how skittish sheep can be.  Seriously, my enemy died of a heart attack.  How would I explain to my friend that not only had I failed to repair the fence but I also murdered one of his sheep?  

One of the reasons the shepherd walks ahead of his flock is to protect them. The Good Shepherd clears a path of safety for the sheep to travel.  This is exactly what Christ claims for us. He sees every potential threat on the road ahead.  He knows what's coming. He knows both the destination and the perils of the journey and is determined to provide safe arrival.  Therefore, if the Shepherd sees oncoming trauma and allows it to eventuate, the tragedy holds great meaning and purpose.  Make no mistake however, whatever befalls us, the Shepherd works it all together to bring about His redemptive plan.  He is not caught off guard by anything and in fact works on every side of the situation to accomplish His good will.  That alone should give us great courage and strength to live our lives and live them to the full. I am not sure why that ram speared me that day, nor, am I certain my prank caused his death.  What I do know is that, like the sheep in the field, our lives are ordered and our days are numbered. Consequently, I will live as though each day is my last, trusting that God is at work all around me to create extraordinary opportunities and to eventually guide me safely home.       

Weekly Response

1. What does Pastor Jeff mean by the phrase, “the other side of the camp” in Resolution Six? 

2. What is meant by the term “omniscience” and “omnipotence” of God?  Give an example of each.

3. Can you think of a time in your life when you saw no way out of an unfortunate situation only to discover that God had been working on the other side to provide a way out? Did you chalk it up to the supernatural activity of God or to coincidences?  Based on what we have learned so far, how important is it to give God glory for His wonderful provision?

4. Are you desperately praying for something but feel God is uninterested or uninvolved?  What does this chapter tell you to do?   

5. Pastor Jeff said, “The resolutions by which you live greatly determine the speed at which you arrive at this glorious destination.” What do you think he means?

6. Pastor Jeff went on to say, “At the moment where knee-jerking, self-preservation yields to faith, trust, and dependence on God, then, and only then, are you ready for the kind of extraordinary adventures for which God has been preparing you from the day you were born. The question then is: What does God need to do to get you to the point where you stop the knee jerking reactions and begin trusting God in every circumstance?

7. Gideon moved forward with jars, torches, and voices. David went forward with stones and a sling.  When God calls you to do something He assumes the responsibility to equip you to do it.  When you have reasonable certainty that God has called you to do something difficult, are you able to move out in faith even when you don’t see the “how” behind the “what?” Why not?

8. Can you think of a time you approached a difficult situation in your own time, wisdom and strength?  How did it work out?  What lesson did you learn?

9. What do you think of Pastor Jeff’s response to someone dying even when we pray?