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Shepherd Daily Devotional – Plentiful Harvest

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

One day, Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching and healing diseases. Then He took a good look at the crowd and had compassion on them because they looked harassed, like sheep without a shepherd. At that moment, Jesus felt a strong desire to do more for the people. Although Jesus had pity on the people, he didn’t think of their miserable situation as a problem that was beyond repair. Instead, He saw it as a great opportunity. As Jesus observed the miserable crowd, He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

Notice that Jesus called the pitiable situation, “harvest”. He viewed it as a job opportunity and not as a problem. What do you see whenever you move on the streets of your city? Do you see those with worried faces or you don’t even notice? At every given time, the streets are made up of people who carry different expressions. Some carry plain or jovial faces; others have serious or worried expressions. What goes through your mind as you notice those worried faces? Today, as you notice those who appear to be restless and harassed, think of ways you can help out.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make me a helper to other people. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 9:35-37

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional – Working With God

Written By Ben Dankaka

Just as it is important to walk with God, it is also important to work with Him.

Walking with God literally means to take every step as directed by God. To walk with God, you will have to spend a large amount of your time studying the scriptures, praying and meditating until you and God become intimate friends. If you truly walk with God, you will become a godly person. You can’t relate with God and not think and act like Him. But just as it is important to walk with God, it is also important to work with Him. While we can walk with God through a relationship, we can also work with God by functioning through Him.

Working with God occurs when we function as “employees” of His Kingdom. You see, God isn’t only interested in walking with you; He wants you to work for Him. God doesn’t just want to have a relationship with you; He wants to help you make better impact through His kingdom culture. When Jesus met Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” These were fishermen who only knew how to catch fish, but when they met Jesus they became world changers. Work with God!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to work with you. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 4:19; Matthew 5:13-16

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional – The Single-Minded Leader

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

If that dream means so much to you, you will have to let go of some things.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Although, this parable is intended to make us recognize the worth of the kingdom of heaven, it also illustrates the kind of attitude that is required of anyone who wants to achieve anything worthwhile. The “merchant” GAVE UP EVERYTHING for the sake of heaven. In other words, the merchant let go every other endeavor that might stop him from achieving his ultimate goal of making heaven.

Until you commit yourself to a single cause, you will never become an outstanding leader. Think of all the great leaders that have impacted our world – They are single-minded. For instance, when people talk about Nelson Mandela, the one thing that goes through their minds is the man’s fight against apartheid even though he was a lawyer. What makes great leaders exceptional isn’t really their profession but what they do with their lives. I don’t know what you need to give up. But if that dream means so much to you, you will have to let go of some things. Be single-minded!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to stay focused. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 21:19; Matthew 14:44-46

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional – The Daily Cross

Written By Ben Dankaka

Don’t suffer for the wrong reasons.

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Clearly, Jesus wasn’t referring to a physical cross. He didn’t mean we would all have to live and die in the same way He did. Specifically, Jesus wanted us to know that we will all face our own troubles as Christians. Though we are bound to suffer, Christ assures us that our suffering will not be in vain. Just as He was raised to life, after His suffering, we too will be raised after our suffering.

But the cross of Christ isn’t just any kind of misery. You see, whether we like it or not, life often hits everyone with troubles. You don’t have to be a Christian to face persecution. Even as an unbeliever, you could suffer for your principles. So we should not assume that every problem in our lives is a sign that we are carrying the cross. The daily cross that Jesus meant can only come when we walk with Him. Are you having troubles because of your faith or is your suffering caused by your own foolish acts? Don’t suffer for the wrong reasons.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I not suffer for the wrong reasons. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 4:12-19; Luke 9:23-27; Matthew 5:10-11

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional – Stay there!

Written By Ben Dankaka

God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

After winning the prayer contest against the prophets of Baal, Elijah inspired a revival. When the Israelites saw how God responded to Elijah’s sacrifice they immediately repented. Elijah had seized that moment and ordered the killing of the prophets of Baal. Moments later, just as Elijah had prophesied, Israel had a heavy rain, after over three years of drought. But just as Elijah was about to celebrate, he found himself, once again in the wilderness, when he received a death threat from Jezebel. While he was on exile, Elijah became depressed and even prayed that God would take his own life. But as he rested in a cave, God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Possibly, God asked that question because Elijah wasn’t supposed to run away from his country, even though he was threatened by Jezebel. Perhaps, you’ve found yourself in a similar situation. You’ve spent your energy on a cause. But instead of recognition, you’ve been rejected and misunderstood. You are now at a point where you are beginning to doubt and question your convictions. Unless if God tells you to quit, stay there. Oftentimes, God wants us to confront challenges, not to run from it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the strength to overcome. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 18:38-46; 19:1-9

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.