Day 7—Wednesday, February 25

1 Kings 22:17

Then Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each one go home in peace.’ ‘’

During our year of Back to Basics, the shepherd and his care of the sheep he is responsible for, is an ongoing theme. We know that the shepherd cares for his sheep and knows each by name and if one sheep is missing, he will search until he finds the sheep and return it to the flock. The image of the gentle shepherd guiding his sheep is familiar and comforting to us. It demonstrates the shepherd’s total focus on the well-being and safety of the sheep. When the Prophet Micaiah was asked should King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat of Judah go to war against Ramoth-gilead, he told them the Lord told him they were like sheep without a shepherd. We know, with that statement, that the kings were not looking after their people. God’s use of the shepherd and sheep analogy reminds Israel of God’s love and his focus on his chosen people.

During this season of Lent, let us use these 40 days of contemplation to refocus ourselves. Through daily devotions, prayer and reflection we can more easily see the ways we can serve one another through offering comfort, support, a meal, a kind word, or an act of generosity. RCPC is a church full of a giving and loving spirit. During Lent, let us be open to new ways (for us as individuals or as the body of Christ) of serving our community and our world.

Dear God,

Open our hearts to you, that we may be guided to new ways you may be asking us to serve you. Open our eyes to the needs of others who may be lonely, weary, overwhelmed. Help us to see the needs of others so that we may respond in ways that bring about change both large and small that help make this world one that better reflects our faith and commitment to you. Amen

-Paula Mitchell