Staff Devotions
Night 1: The Lord is My Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
There’s no doubt about it—our kids are anxious. Over 22% of children are in therapy, while 40% of high schoolers have experienced persistent hopelessness or sadness. They deal with household substance abuse, parental incarceration, neighborhood violence, and unmet basic needs. Social media, interpersonal relationship drama, and world events all contribute to instability among our youth. They don’t know where to turn for comfort.
Moralistic, therapeutic deism is a dominant worldview among their parents. They believe in a god—a supreme being—who has no connection to the world he created, no personal involvement in their lives, and no demands on how they live. This worldview has an appearance of morality—the highest good is to be good to others—but no basis for saying one action is wrong and another is right. They ignore the biblical foundation for morality and instead impose their own idea of right and wrong; morality is based on “my truth” rather than absolute truth. And this worldview is therapeutic—the purpose for living is my own personal happiness; there is no higher purpose.
Without an anchor for their soul and the knowledge of a sovereign Savior who loves them and is working out all things for their good, it’s no wonder our kids are lost. They’re wandering on the wrong path of their own making, filled with worry and fear, depressed about their lack of happiness, and unsure of what the future holds for them.
This week, we are introducing kids to the gentle Good Shepherd through the life of David and Psalm 23. They will meet the God who created them in his image, with great care, for his glory, and the good of all of us. The God who loved the world so much that he gave his Son as a sacrifice for sin. The God who leads us on the right path, who offers comfort in every trial, who provides for all our needs, and in whom every promise is “yes” and “amen.”
Today, as you prepare to share with the children, first remind yourself of who Jesus is—is he your shepherd? Have you crossed from being a lost sheep to a beloved member of his fold? Does he know you (John 10:14)? Doyou run to the chief shepherd and overseer of your soul when you are anxious (1 Peter 2:25)? Is he the shepherd and rock on which you build your life (Genesis 49:24)? Do you know that he will lovingly carry you forever (Psalm 28:9)?
What amazing mercy that we can say, “The Lord is my shepherd.” That the Creator of the universe is my personal shepherd. Is he yours? May we pray that we live our lives in light of this Good Shepherd as the Puritans did.
Lord of all being,There is one thing that deserves my greatest care, that calls forth my ardent desires, That is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made—to glorify thee who hast given me being, and to do all the good I can for my fellow men; Verily life is not worth having if it be not improved for this noble purpose. Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind! Most men seem to live for themselves, without much or any regard for thy glory, or for the good of others; They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue the riches, honours, pleasures of this life, as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, merriment, could make their immortal souls happy; But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these! And how miserable ere long will those be that sleep in them, for all our happiness consists in loving thee, and being holy as thou art holy. Help me to know continually that there can be no true happiness, no fulfilling of thy purpose for me, apart from a life lived in and for the Son of thy love.
— Arthur Bennett, The Valley of Vision (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2005), 13.
There’s no doubt about it—our kids are anxious. Over 22% of children are in therapy, while 40% of high schoolers have experienced persistent hopelessness or sadness. They deal with household substance abuse, parental incarceration, neighborhood violence, and unmet basic needs. Social media, interpersonal relationship drama, and world events all contribute to instability among our youth. They don’t know where to turn for comfort.
Moralistic, therapeutic deism is a dominant worldview among their parents. They believe in a god—a supreme being—who has no connection to the world he created, no personal involvement in their lives, and no demands on how they live. This worldview has an appearance of morality—the highest good is to be good to others—but no basis for saying one action is wrong and another is right. They ignore the biblical foundation for morality and instead impose their own idea of right and wrong; morality is based on “my truth” rather than absolute truth. And this worldview is therapeutic—the purpose for living is my own personal happiness; there is no higher purpose.
Without an anchor for their soul and the knowledge of a sovereign Savior who loves them and is working out all things for their good, it’s no wonder our kids are lost. They’re wandering on the wrong path of their own making, filled with worry and fear, depressed about their lack of happiness, and unsure of what the future holds for them.
This week, we are introducing kids to the gentle Good Shepherd through the life of David and Psalm 23. They will meet the God who created them in his image, with great care, for his glory, and the good of all of us. The God who loved the world so much that he gave his Son as a sacrifice for sin. The God who leads us on the right path, who offers comfort in every trial, who provides for all our needs, and in whom every promise is “yes” and “amen.”
Today, as you prepare to share with the children, first remind yourself of who Jesus is—is he your shepherd? Have you crossed from being a lost sheep to a beloved member of his fold? Does he know you (John 10:14)? Doyou run to the chief shepherd and overseer of your soul when you are anxious (1 Peter 2:25)? Is he the shepherd and rock on which you build your life (Genesis 49:24)? Do you know that he will lovingly carry you forever (Psalm 28:9)?
What amazing mercy that we can say, “The Lord is my shepherd.” That the Creator of the universe is my personal shepherd. Is he yours? May we pray that we live our lives in light of this Good Shepherd as the Puritans did.
Lord of all being,There is one thing that deserves my greatest care, that calls forth my ardent desires, That is, that I may answer the great end for which I am made—to glorify thee who hast given me being, and to do all the good I can for my fellow men; Verily life is not worth having if it be not improved for this noble purpose. Yet, Lord, how little is this the thought of mankind! Most men seem to live for themselves, without much or any regard for thy glory, or for the good of others; They earnestly desire and eagerly pursue the riches, honours, pleasures of this life, as if they supposed that wealth, greatness, merriment, could make their immortal souls happy; But, alas, what false delusive dreams are these! And how miserable ere long will those be that sleep in them, for all our happiness consists in loving thee, and being holy as thou art holy. Help me to know continually that there can be no true happiness, no fulfilling of thy purpose for me, apart from a life lived in and for the Son of thy love.
— Arthur Bennett, The Valley of Vision (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2005), 13.