Blackaby reminds the reader just how dependent sheep were on the shepherd. Food, water, shelter and safety were all provided by the shepherd. For a shepherd, his sheep were of utmost importance to him; therefore, a good shepherd would go to great lengths to provide the very best he had for his sheep. Think of what the "very best" our heavenly Father has, then realize that He wants to bestow that on each of his children.
Blackaby then poses the question, "Have you allowed your focus to shift from the Shepherd to what the Shepherd gives you?" Hmmm. . . That caused me to examine my prayers. Do I thank Him more for providing rather than being? Do I thank Him more for stuff than for His sacrifice?
While it is amazing that God would provide so richly for as undeserving person as me, what is even more incredible is that a perfect, holy, eternal God would deign leave His heavenly realm, live a life of pain and suffering, die an unimaginably painful death so that I could spend eternity with Him.* The Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Alpha and Omega, Yahweh allows me 24/7 access to Him. He is never tired, distracted or too busy. These things should be the main focus of my prayer, meditations and thanksgivings, not the "stuff" he provides for me.
Yes, I should be thankful for what He has allowed me to borrow for a few years on earth, but when one considers the wealth of God, the earthly things He gives me, are of little consequence to Him. However, my salvation, my access to Him, my restored relationship, those things cost Him dearly. It is these things that should bow my head and bend my knee.
*That eternity starts at the moment of salvation. It is not a when-I-die thing.
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