Listen to today’s devo!

For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (Ps. 95:7)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 95:6-7

Every spring, goats descend upon the grassy areas around the walking trails near my Northern California home. They are brought there to feast upon the overgrowth produced by winter rains. The terrain is rugged, filled with hidden rocks and fallen trees, making traditional landscaping maintenance impossible. These goats are not wild mountain goats, free to roam where they please. They belong to someone. Their shepherds carefully fence off different sections and guide the unruly flock to greater pastures where they are free to eat to their heart’s content. A loyal Australian shepherd dog runs to-and-fro, keeping a sharp eye out for lurking coyotes. The goats want for nothing, yet they often dig at the edges of the fences to break free. They fight each other. They cry out for attention.

Many of us don’t particularly like being compared to livestock. Let’s be honest. Sheep are not the smartest animals in the barn. Goats are ornery and smell bad. We would prefer a more regal selection from the animal kingdom, but lions don’t need shepherds. Bears do not need protection. Psalm 95 reminds us who we are and who we belong to. We are sheep. We have a Good Shepherd who cares for his flock. We live and move and have our being in his pasture. Yet still we dig at the edges of the fences to break free.

Rest in the care of the Good Shepherd.

Mark Moore is an associate professor of theology at Jessup University (CA) and an associate pastor at Faith Legacy Church in Sacramento, California.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.