Scripture for Today: Psalm 49:13-14a “This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd…”

Quite often we would see flocks of sheep in rural France. This shepherd kindly allowed us to take this photo and from it I made a plaque that hangs on our wall with Scripture. It was not until I enlarged it however, that I noticed something troubling in his right hand. I wanted to believe that this little lamb was fine and that he was in fact helping it. But it may be that its little life was over and he was removing it. From his smile, the shepherd does not look too concerned.

Today’s verse tells us that there is a shepherd we do not want to follow. He is a shepherd who leads his sheep to their death. His followers are those that trust in themselves and who have influence on others who approve of everything they say. What a contrast this is to the Great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus! (Hebrews 13:20) He leads those that trust in Him away from death and towards life! This Good Shepherd lays down his own life for the sheep. (John 10:15) And He came so that His sheep would have abundant life! (John 10:10)

What a huge difference between these two shepherds! The choice is between death or life. And the criteria is a matter of my trust and where I place it. Without even realizing it, when I trust in myself I am following the wrong shepherd and it does not end well! But entrusting my life to the life-giving Shepherd ends with an eternity with Him!

Keep me following You, Lord.