Page 147 - Grace150 Devotional

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

In Psalm 131, the psalmist says, “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up…” That is
a confession that I cannot always make. When I look into my soul, I often find
various forms of self-absorption. I like to imagine I am great. I want to declare
myself to be a top-notch leader, fantastic husband, model father, and beyond.
When I look up the term “awesome” in the dictionary, I want to see a selfie.
So when Jesus calls me a sheep, it can hit my soul hard. Sheep don’t seem that
valuable. Sheep aren’t great leaders nor are sheep change agents. Sheep aren’t
the brightest animals. Sheep need resources, direction, and leadership. They are
needier than they could possibly know. I am needier than I could possibly know.

But, Jesus doesn’t just say that I am a sheep, He says that I am His sheep. When
Jesus thinks about my identity, it is always connected to Him. Is that the way I
think about it? Do I think of myself as His, or do I search for a sense of identity
beyond Him?
Father, thank You for making me Yours. It is the greatest privilege of my life.
Help us strive to find our identity in You.
– Mike Jackson

devotions for the journey DAY 140