… everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7)
Daily reading: Daniel 9
Some might view God’s desire for worship and obedience as egotistical—but this misses the heart of our relationship with Him. Consider the relationship between a shepherd and a sheepdog. The sheepdog lives to carry out the shepherd’s will, working with joy and energy, completely attuned to its master’s voice and purpose. Its delight is not in self-glory, but in pleasing the one it serves. The shepherd doesn’t ignore this devotion—he values it, trains the dog with care and gives it a place of belonging and purpose. In the same way, God does not treat His servants with indifference. Far from being a cold master, He is a loving Shepherd who calls us into meaningful partnership. Though we may not always feel the joy the sheepdog shows, we too can live with purpose—working alongside others, in harmony, to fulfill the will of the Good Shepherd who truly loves us.
