The Shepherd Don’t Play
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, July 21
Jeremiah 23:1-6
There’s a colloquial phrase, “Don’t play about,” that I hear often in my context. In short, it means someone cares about a thing or person. When I read today’s passage, my first thought was, “God don’t play about his sheep!” God sends Jeremiah to pronounce judgment on the shepherds who “destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture” (v. 1, NRSV). This week’s theme is peace from the shepherd’s hand. The Hebrew word translated as “peace” (shalom) refers to a sense of wholeness or being “safe and sound,” that everything is as God intended it to be before the Fall. In addition to judging these reckless shepherds, God puts a plan in place to “raise up for David a righteous Branch” (v. 5) who will usher in God’s shalom for God’s sheep.
God, thank you for Jesus, our Good Shepherd who came so we could experience wholeness and abundant life. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS: TO BE GENEROUS STEWARDS
Mischief in the Neighborhood
Monday, July 22
Psalm 28
In verse 3 of today’s passage, the psalmist describes “workers of evil”
as those “who speak peace with their neighbors while mischief is in their hearts.” We often think of mischief as a harmless prank, but the more accurate translation is “evil.” This stands out to me because the psalmist is pleading for God not to drag him away to be judged with these
wicked ones.
Yesterday’s passage focused on shepherds, or ministry leaders. Today’s passage reminds us that God holds all of us—not just leaders—accountable for speaking peace with our neighbors and doing what we can to seek their peace too.
God, help our words and actions toward our neighbors to both be rooted in your peace. Amen.
Go with Your Gut
Tuesday, July 23
Mark 6:30-34
Even though the crowd interrupted Jesus’s planned retreat with his apostles, Jesus “had compassion for them” (v. 34). The word translated as compassion means to feel deep emotion in one’s gut because that was believed to be the seat of our emotions (hence we have phrases like “gut feeling” or “go with your gut”). Jesus didn’t just feel a passing pity for these lost sheep; he felt deeply moved to action. He saw that they were sheep in need of a shepherd, so he became their shepherd. He assessed their needs and addressed the most immediate one: to know God (v. 34). This reminds me of a bumper sticker I once saw that read, “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.”
God, help us to notice when you are moving us to have great compassion on others. Guide us in how to respond. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS: THE WORK OF THE PAUL CARLSON PARTNERSHIP
Blessed by Being a Blessing
Wednesday, July 24
Mark 6:35-44
These people who were once without a shepherd are now Jesus’s sheep. He has already pressed pause on his scheduled retreat with his twelve disciples, so he could teach the crowd about God. Now it’s late, people are hungry, and no food delivery services are available. The disciples want to send the people away to fend for themselves, but as their shepherd, Jesus takes responsibility for them.
At the same time, he uses it as a teaching moment for his trusted twelve. In this passage, peace from the shepherd’s hand looks like being inconvenienced for the sake of others’ wellbeing. And something the disciples missed: providing food for the crowd also meant they would eat too!
God, please open our eyes to see how we can meet the needs of those around us. Let us be surprised by how we are blessed by being a blessing! Amen.
As the Wind Blows
Thursday, July 25
Mark 6:45-56
Often when I read the Bible, I feel like I end up with more questions than answers. But I love it because it pushes me to dig deeper, and God never disappoints me in those treasure hunts. Today’s reading made me wonder why Jesus “intended to pass them by” (v. 48). Long story short, it wasn’t because he was ignoring them. As the disciples struggled to maintain control of their boat, Jesus observed them from the shore—on a pitch-black night! He walked out on the water to bring them reassurance. (This was directly connected to when God passed by Moses in Exodus 33:19, 22 and passed by Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11.)
The next time you’re struggling against life’s strong winds, remember God is with you.
God, help us to remember that you are with us during our dark and stormy nights. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS: FAMILIES AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE
Broken Down Walls
Friday, July 26
Ephesians 2:11-16
Just as God is love (1 John 4:8), God is also peace.
In today’s passage, Paul describes Jesus as our peace (v. 14). The specific way that Jesus demonstrated peace was breaking down the wall dividing us from God. Jesus, our shepherd, broke down the walls and brought us outsiders into the fold, ensuring that we would forever have access to the contentment and wholeness that comes from knowing God and being known by God.
God, thank you for sending Jesus to break down the wall that divided us from you. Just as Jesus is our peace, help us to demonstrate that peace to others. Amen.
Family Means Something
Saturday, July 27
Ephesians 2:17-22
As Christians, we are both citizens of God’s kingdom and members of God’s household. And just as our shepherd broke down the walls between us and God, God’s peace should break down the walls that divide Christians from different backgrounds. We must embrace and embody this new familial connection created by God’s peace because family should mean something. Or as Lilo says in Lilo and Stitch, “Family means nobody gets left behind.” Being a citizen of Chicago connects me to fellow citizens in a certain way. I’m going to be civil and even find ways to love my neighbor as God commands. However, I have a much more intimate connection with the members of my household—and a greater responsibility to them. How can we ensure that no member of our global household of faith is being left behind?
God, thank you for our fellow members of your household of faith. Help me to see them as my family and to love them accordingly. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS: GRATITUDE FOR THE PROMISES OF GOD
