The Good Shepherd

Protecting her cubs from coalition invaders, is one of the most important roles a lioness takes on in her lifetime. She will try to fight off lions that have been ousted from other prides as they attempt to invade her own.

Tooth and nail — to the death if she has to — she puts up her best fight. Even then, most of her cubs won’t make it past the age of one.

When a lion succeeds at taking over a pride, his first order of business is to go for the cubs. Without the merest regard for the lionesses, he kills their cubs to ensure his genes will be passed on.

In John 10:10 Jesus said, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life and have it abundantly.” And further in verse 28 he reassures, “and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

What a promise!

Our adversary, and unrelenting thief, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking who to devour, but he doesn’t stand a chance against He who knows us by name. He who would leave the 99 for the sake of one. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, holds us in the palm of His hand.