The Gentle Shepherd

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want..."

Look at this picture. 

Do you find anything wrong with it? Probably not. This is how we picture Jesus as our shepherd, right?

Well wrong. This picture is one sided.

The fact is -

In the ancient Near Eastern reality, a shepherd was very different.

​The Hebrew for shepherd is the word Ro'eh, which literally means a "feeder" or "tender."

​However, the detailed meaning is much more nuanced. The role of a shepherd absolutely necessitated the heart and skills of a warrior.

​In the ancient Hebrew context, you could not be a "good shepherd" without also being a fierce fighter. A warrior protector AND a provider and guide.

​Here is the breakdown of why the connotation of "warrior-protector" is embedded in the concept of Ro'eh:

​1. The Hostile Environment

​Our modern image of shepherding often involves rolling green, fenced pastures where sheep are relatively safe.

​In the ancient Levant (Israel), shepherding was done in the wilderness. The terrain was rugged, arid, and dangerous. A shepherd was leading defenseless animals through territories occupied by:

• ​Apex Predators: Lions, Asiatic bears, wolves, and leopards were common threats in biblical times.

• ​Human Threats: Bandits, raiders, and thieves who would try to steal the flock for food or wealth.

​A shepherd who was pacifist or cowardly would lose their flock very quickly.

​2. The Tools of the Trade: The Rod

​The famous phrasing in Psalm 23 mentions the shepherd’s two primary tools: "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

• ​The Staff (Mish'enet): This was the long, crooked stick used for guidance, leaning on while walking, and gently hooking a sheep to pull it away from a cliff edge. This is the peaceful tool.

• ​The Rod (Shevet): This was distinctly a weapon. It was a short, heavy wooden club, sometimes tipped with metal or flint, worn at the belt. It was used to beat back brush, but primarily, it was used to bash in the skulls of attacking predators or thieves.

​When David says God’s rod "comforts" him, he means it is comforting to know that his Shepherd can protect him from any kind of an enemy. 

​3. The Biblical Prototype: David

​The best evidence for the "warrior" connotation is found in David, the archetypal shepherd-king.

​Before David fought Goliath, King Saul dismissed him as just a boy. David’s defense of his ability to fight a giant warrior was based entirely on his experience as a shepherd:

​"But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them...'" (1 Samuel 17:34-36, NIV)

​In Hebrew thought, David did not become a warrior after he left the sheepfolds. He became a warrior because he was in the sheepfolds. The wilderness was his boot camp.

​Summary: The Defensive Warrior

​The Hebrew connotation of Ro'eh is not an offensive warrior—a soldier who goes out to conquer new territory.

​Rather, it connotes a fierce, defensive warrior.

​The Ro'eh is motivated by deep care and possessiveness over the flock. The shepherd prefers peace and grazing, but if anything threatens what they love, they instantly shift into a violent, protective mode.

​So, while Ro'eh means "tender companion," the ancient context demands that this companion also be ready to fight to the death to protect their charge. And which He did. 

Now, when we change that mental picture of our Shepherd in our minds, does not the reality of the Psalms and other verses of the Bible truly come alive? Do not His promises of protection and provision become a reality? Does not the Bible and His word become our truth?

Radio Silence

In our day today life, many times we face radio silence from people - in emails or questions or any issue we may want resolved. And when we do its usually because -

A. We are not important enough

B. The other person has no answer

C. It may not be their priority.

But what happens when the Signal is Lost with God? How do we go about finding God in the Silence

​"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?" - Psalm 22:1

​Have you ever felt like you’re shouting into a void? Like you’re tuning your spiritual radio, searching desperately for the familiar frequency of God’s presence, but all you get is static—or worse, total radio silence? That is one of the most difficult seasons of faith. We pray, we read, we wait, but the heavens seem brass, and the sense of divine nearness is gone.

​If you are currently experiencing this profound quiet, you are in good company. The Bible is full of saints who felt abandoned, from Job to the psalmists, and most profoundly, Jesus Christ himself on the cross. It’s important to understand that the feeling of distance does not necessarily mean God is absent.

​What can be the Purpose of the Pause? ​Why does God sometimes go quiet? While we can never know His full, mysterious will, the silence often serves a few key purposes in our spiritual growth:

​1. To Deepen Our Trust (Moving from Sensation to Faith): When God’s presence is emotionally overwhelming and visible, faith is easy. But true, resilient faith is built in the wilderness. The silence forces us to rely not on our feelings, but on the immutable facts of God's character: He is good, He is faithful, and He keeps His promises. We learn to trust the Promise-Giver even when we can’t perceive the Presence.

​2. To Cultivate Maturity (Learning to Search): When a child calls out, a parent often answers immediately. When a young adult is learning independence, the parent might wait, allowing them to solve the problem themselves. Silence encourages us to stop passively receiving and start actively seeking. It forces us into a deeper, more intentional study of Scripture and a more honest examination of our own hearts.

​3. To Prepare Us for the Next Assignment: Sometimes, the silence is simply a necessary time of rest and recalibration before a major spiritual breakthrough or a difficult mission. Think of the intense quiet before a massive storm, or the stillness required before a difficult operation. This pause allows us to be emptied of our noise and filled with His readiness.

​

​When the silence is overwhelming, here are three anchors to hold onto:

• ​Re-read the History: Go back to the moments in your life where you know God showed up. Write them down. These are your Ebenezers—stones of remembrance that testify to His enduring faithfulness. Your past proves His future reliability.

• ​Focus on the Cross: The silence you feel now is nothing compared to the cosmic abandonment Jesus experienced when He cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" He did that so that when we walk through the shadow of silence, we never walk through it truly alone. He has been there.

• ​Worship Anyway: Worship is not a mood enhancer; it’s an act of will. It’s declaring God’s goodness before the answer arrives, before the signal comes back. Worship in the waiting shifts your focus from your lack of feeling to God’s enduring majesty.

​The absence of a signal doesn't mean the station has shut down. God speaks best in the quiet, and He never abandons His post.

​

Surviving The Fire

​2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (God of all comfort) 

​“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 reveals a core pattern of comfort and purpose in the Christian life: that God not only consoles us in our suffering, but equips us to become vessels of comfort for others. Paul writes that the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” This divine cycle transforms personal pain into communal healing, reminding believers that their trials are never wasted—they are redeemed into ministry, empathy, and hope.

​The Apostle Paul, who wrote these words, was no stranger to hardship. He faced shipwrecks, imprisonment, hunger, and persecution. Yet, he doesn't begin his letter with a complaint; he begins with a profound blessing to God, whom he calls the "God of all comfort."

​This passage reveals a powerful, two-step process in how God addresses our suffering:

​Step 1: God’s Presence in Your Pain (Verse 4a)

God is not distant when we are hurting. He doesn't wait for the affliction to end before stepping in. He is the one “who comforts us in all our affliction.” This comfort is not necessarily the immediate removal of the pain, but the awareness of His presence, the peace that transcends understanding, and the strength to endure. When we are afflicted, we are drawn into a unique intimacy with Him, relying on Him entirely because our own strength has failed. He knows exactly what we are going through, and He meets us there, pouring His mercy into our deepest wounds.

​Step 2: The Purpose of Your Comfort (Verse 4b)

This is the most remarkable part of the passage: God’s comfort is never meant to stop with us. It’s given “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.” Your struggle is not wasted. The deep compassion and understanding you gain from enduring your own trial becomes the precise tool you use to help someone else later. The comfort you received from God acts as a sacred relay baton. When you sit with a friend going through a hardship, you don't offer them textbook advice; you offer them the authentic, grace-filled comfort that was first given to you.

​The pain you feel is real, but it is also a preparation. It is forging within you a profound empathy, transforming you from a person who simply endured suffering into a compassionate source of solace for others. 

When you have survived the fire, you become a light for those still walking through the flames.

Unseen Battles

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

— Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

We often hear people wonder - why do good people suffer bad things? 

​We often view our struggles—the anxiety, the sharp temptation, the persistent doubt, the relational friction—as purely internal or interpersonal problems. We fight against a bad mood, a difficult colleague, or a personal failure. But the Apostle Paul pulls back the curtain on reality, revealing that these surface battles are often just symptoms of a deeper, unseen warfare.

​You are a soldier in a spiritual war, whether you feel like one or not. The true enemy is not the person who angered you, nor is it the circumstance that caused you distress. The real enemy is the spiritual forces that seek to distract you, discourage you, and ultimately dismantle your faith. The target is your faith and the way is through your fear and temptation. 

​This truth is both sobering and empowering. Why? 

• ​Sobering: It reminds us that there is a strategic, intelligent foe actively working against our peace and purpose.

• ​Empowering: It shifts our focus from fighting symptoms to fighting the source. When you realize the battle is spiritual, you stop using fleshly weapons (anger, gossip, self-pity) and start using the only effective tools: spiritual weapons.

​Three Strategies for Spiritual Victory

​1. Know Your Enemy’s Strategy (The Lie)

​The primary weapon of the enemy is deception. He tries to make you believe lies about God, lies about yourself, and lies about your situation.

• ​Lies about God: "God isn't good. He has forgotten you. Your sin is too great for His grace."

• ​Lies about you: "You are worthless. You will never change. You are too weak to fight."

​Your Defense: The Truth of God's Word. When you are tempted to believe a lie, speak a corresponding truth. If you feel forgotten, recall: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:8).

​2. Put on the Full Armor (Ephesians 6:13-17)

​Paul is insistent: we must be fully equipped. The armor is not optional; it is the provision Christ has given you for protection.

3. Fight from a Position of Victory (Intercession)

​Crucially, you are not fighting for victory; you are fighting from the victory already secured by Jesus Christ on the cross. Your power does not come from your strength, but from His.

​Paul concludes the armor passage with a call to prayer for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). Intercession is how we deploy the spiritual weapons. When you pray, you are inviting the power of God into the unseen battle, and no spiritual force can stand against Him.

​

Think about this: 

• ​What "flesh and blood" struggle in your life right now might actually be a symptom of a deeper spiritual battle?

• ​Which piece of the spiritual armor do you feel you need to intentionally "put on" today?

​Prayer

​Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to the reality of the spiritual war. Forgive me for trying to fight my battles in my own strength. I put on the full armor of God today. I take up the Shield of Faith to guard against the lies of the enemy, and I wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Strengthen me to stand firm in the victory Christ has already won, and help me to pray ceaselessly for others who are in the fight. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Standing on The Promises of God: Pastor Rajiv

 

Good Morning God!

Read Isiaah 44 6-8

I have a question today: if God was living with you or me, would we not say "Good morning" every day?

Francis Taylor points out certain truths viz our relationship with God. Commenting on the quoted passage she says -

"God is very definite in this passage from Isaiah. I am God and there is no other! I am the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, as is written in the book of Revelation. Since we declare that we believe this, why do we insist on having other gods? Anything or anyone we put before God, including ourselves, we are making gods. Putting God first, means giving up some of our control and obeying his rules, and living as God wants us to live. This isn't the first time this message has come before us this year, but it bears repeating and reflecting upon once again. Where do we place God on a scale of 1 – 10 in the course of our day? Is God in your thoughts when you wake up? How many times do you think about God during the day while driving, working, reading, watching television? What about at night? Is God the last thing you think about at night as you reflect upon your day? How many times during the day do you say "thank you" for getting those green lights, finding a parking place, having the meeting go well? Or maybe you need to thank God that the person running the red light didn't hit you? Tomorrow, try saying good morning to God and ask him to be with you during the day. Then, look for God in the people and events during the day. Tomorrow night, think about your day, recognize the places where God was present and then say "good night." Repeat."

Francis Taylor

What she is saying is that God should be integrated into all aspects of life, not relegated to a Sunday-only activity.

He thus becomes a lifestyle rather than an event. The encouragement to say "thank you" for daily mercies (green lights, parking spots, safety) is a call to practice mindfulness and gratitude, recognizing God's hand in both the mundane and the profound.

We need to move from theological statement to practical devotional exercise, which is its greatest strength.

Ms Taylor establishes a non-negotiable truth using direct biblical reference: "I am God and there is no other! I am the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega." This declaration, pulling from both Isaiah and Revelation, emphasizes God's eternality and completeness. If this is true, it logically follows that nothing else can share that level of importance, not even ourselves, our jobs, our families or our possessions. Our pride lies in God, not in these things.

Making God and Jesus our lifestyle means transforming our faith from a belief system into a 24/7 reality. How can we do that?

• To start with, change morning routines. Before you check your phone or start your to-do list, offer a simple prayer: "Good morning, God. Be with me today and guide my steps."

• Focus on the Person of Jesus: The lifestyle isn't just about what you do; it's about becoming more like Christ. Study Jesus's life in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and focus on His humility, compassion, and priorities.

Integrate God into Daily Rhythms

​This moves God from being a "Sunday event" to a continuous presence.

• ​Communion through Prayer (The Constant Conversation):

• ​Scheduled Time: Set aside dedicated, quiet time (even 5-10 minutes) each day for prayer and devotion. Be consistent.

• ​Spontaneous Prayer: This is key to lifestyle—talking to God while driving, cooking, waiting in line, or before a difficult meeting. The quote's reference to saying "thank you" for a parking spot is a perfect example.

• ​Meditation on Scripture (The Daily Bread):

• ​Read for Transformation, not just Information: Instead of speed-reading, take one verse or a short passage. Read it slowly, meditate on what it means, and ask, "How should this change how I live today?"

• ​Practical Tip: Use a Bible app to keep a verse or thought on your phone's home screen for a few hours.

Make Your Work and Activities Worship

​Your job, your hobbies, and your errands are all opportunities to express your faith.

• ​Excellence and Integrity: Do your work, chores, or studies with excellence, as if you are working directly for God, not just your boss or teacher (Colossians 3:23). This means being honest, diligent, and helpful.

• ​Attitude and Humility: In traffic, in frustrating situations, or during conflicts, actively try to display the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - Galatians 5:22-23). This is where the rubber meets the road.

• ​The "Other Gods" Check: As the quote asks, constantly evaluate our priorities. If our pursuit of comfort, money, approval, or pleasure causes us to neglect our spiritual life or compromise our values, that's where we need to surrender control.

Making God and Jesus your lifestyle is about cultivating an active awareness of His presence and consciously choosing His way over your own, moment by moment. It's a journey of forming small, consistent habits that slowly shift your heart's greatest desire.

Is God on Your Side?

The pages of the Old Testament are filled with the dramatic prayers and actions of the people of Israel as they faced enemies, famine, and disaster. Their cry was often: "O God, be on our side!" They longed for the Divine Warrior to march with their armies, to deliver them from their foes, and to bless their land. Much like you and I today. 

And, when they walked in obedience, God was indeed their protector and deliverer. When they strayed, the prophets brought God's stern but loving verdict, reminding the people of God's perspective and calling them back to covenant faithfulness.

​One powerful example of this dynamic is seen when the Israelites were about to take Jericho:

​“When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us, or for our adversaries?’ And he said, ‘No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, ‘What does my lord say to his servant?’ ”

​— Joshua 5:13–14 (ESV)

​The commander's answer, "No," is striking. He wasn't choosing sides; he was declaring that God's mission was the only side that mattered. Joshua's response was immediate humility and surrender. He stopped asking God to join his side and asked how he could join God’s.

​The New Covenant: The Question Is Settled

​With the coming of Jesus Christ, the question of whether God is "on our side" is definitively answered and fundamentally transformed.

​The Gospel reveals the ultimate, unwavering truth of God's heart toward humanity: He is absolutely, eternally, and completely on our side.

He did not wait for us to clean up our lives; He came while we were still lost. ​“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ​— Romans 5:8 (ESV)

He did not send a general or a prophet; He sent His own Son. ​“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ​— John 3:16 (ESV)

​The very act of the Incarnation, the Cross, and the Resurrection is God’s decisive declaration of love and commitment to redeem humanity.

​The Apostle Paul drives this point home with powerful rhetoric:

​“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

​— Romans 8:31–32 (ESV)

​The New Challenge

​Because God has proven beyond all doubt that He is for us through Christ, the question shifts from a desperate plea to a deliberate choice. The ultimate battle is no longer for God's allegiance; it is for ours.

​The question is no longer: "Is God on our side?"

The question now is: "Are we on God's side?"

​This means:

Surrender: Are we willing to lay down our own plans and will, just as Joshua did, and ask, "What does my Lord say to his servant?"

Obedience: Are we actively seeking to live by Christ's teachings, aligning our values, actions, and priorities with His kingdom purposes? 

​“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” ​— Matthew 6:24 (ESV) (This principle applies to all areas of allegiance, not just wealth).

Faith: Are we trusting in His completed work on the cross, making His perfect righteousness our ground for peace and hope, rather than relying on our own strength or goodness?

​A Final Thought

​Let us move past the anxious plea for God to join our cause and embrace the reality of the New Covenant: God has already committed Himself to us. Our task is to enthusiastically and obediently commit ourselves to His cause.