Daily Devo: The Good Shepherd (Greater Good Series 3/22)
The Good Shepherd 5 day devotional
based on a sermon preached by Tim Bach, 3/22/26
Day 1 – The Good Shepherd Who Sees
Opening Prayer
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You see me right where I am today. Open my heart to Your word and help me hear Your voice clearly as I spend this time with You. Amen.
Scripture Reading
John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
Matthew 9:36 – “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Daily Topic – Seen and Shepherded
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd because He not only leads but also lays down His life for His sheep.
In Matthew 9:36, He looks at the crowds and feels deep compassion because they are distressed and dispirited, like sheep without anyone to guide or protect them. Our issues have not changed; we still wander, fear, and grow weary, but our Shepherd has not changed either. He sees your needs, your confusion, your exhaustion, and moves toward you with compassion, not condemnation. You are not invisible to Him; you are deeply known, fully seen, and still fully loved.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Take five quiet minutes and ask the Holy Spirit to show you one area where you feel “distressed and dispirited” right now.
Write a short prayer describing that area honestly to Jesus, trusting that He sees you with compassion.
Next to that prayer, write this sentence: “Jesus, my Good Shepherd, You see me here, and You are not leaving me alone in this. Guide me through this.”
Closing Prayer
Good Shepherd, thank You that You see my distress and You are moved with compassion, not disappointment. I surrender this weary place in my life to Your care and leadership today, and I trust that You will guide me step by step. Lead me as one of Your sheep, and help me rest in the truth that I am never unseen and never alone. Amen.
Day 2 – The Shepherd Who Forgives and Calls
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that one of the greatest proofs of Your love is Your willingness to sacrifice Yourself for me. As I read Your word today, help me receive Your forgiveness and respond to Your call. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:2 – “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’”
Matthew 9:9 – “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he got up and followed Him.”
Daily Topic – Forgiven and Invited to Follow
The Good Shepherd does more than fix outward problems; He goes straight to the heart, forgiving sins and restoring relationship. To the paralytic, Jesus speaks courage and forgiveness before He speaks healing, showing that spiritual restoration is His first priority.
To Matthew, the tax collector, Jesus simply says, “Follow Me,” and Matthew gets up and follows, leaving behind an old life and identity. The same Good Shepherd looks at you with full knowledge of your past and present and still says, “Take courage, your sins are forgiven…Follow Me.” His call is immediate, personal, and transformative, inviting you out of spiritual paralysis and into a life of obedience and trust.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Ask the Lord to bring to mind one area where you feel spiritually “stuck” or ashamed.
Confess it honestly to Him, then audibly speak this phrase: “Take courage, my sins are forgiven in Christ.”
Ask: “Jesus, what does ‘Follow Me’ look like in this area today?” Write down one concrete step of obedience (a conversation, a confession, a changed habit) and commit to do it within the next 24–48 hours. Remember that the Holy Spirit is your power source. Ask him to give you power to take that step of obedience.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You forgive my sins and do not leave me sitting in my old patterns. Give me the power of your Holy Spirit so that I can courageously stand up, leave behind what keeps me seated, and follow You in obedience today. Help me to hear and respond to Your voice above all others. Amen.
Day 3 – The Shepherd of the Broken and Hidden
Opening Prayer
Father, thank You that in Your Son, the Good Shepherd, You pursue those who are hiding and broken. Open my eyes to see how You come close to my pain and how You restore what feels beyond repair. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:20, 22 – “And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak…But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.’ At once the woman was made well.”
Matthew 9:32–33 – “As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him. After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke…”
Daily Topic – Found, Healed, and Given a Voice
The woman with the hemorrhage approached Jesus anonymously, hoping perhaps to receive healing without being noticed. Yet Jesus stops, turns, sees her, and calls her “Daughter,” affirming not just her healing but her identity and belonging. Likewise, the mute, demon-possessed man is brought to Jesus, and after deliverance, he is able to speak; the
Good Shepherd takes broken people and gives them a voice.
Jesus finds the people who are hiding, those who feel nameless, voiceless, and too broken to come boldly. He does not merely fix their circumstance; He restores their dignity, identity, and capacity to speak and live as His beloved.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Reflect: In what ways do you feel hidden, nameless, or voiceless right now—before God or before others?
Write down the word “Daughter” or “Son” (whichever applies) and beneath it list two or three truths about your identity in Christ (forgiven, loved, chosen, seen).
Ask Jesus: “Where are You inviting me to step out of hiding and use my voice?” This might be sharing your story, speaking encouragement, or naming a need. Choose one practical way to “speak” this week and do it.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, Good Shepherd, thank You that You see me when I try to stay in the background and that You call me by name. Heal the places in me that feel broken, silenced, or ashamed, and give me courage to live as Your beloved child. Use my restored voice to bless others and point them back to You. Amen.
Day 4 – The Shepherd Who Enters Our Grief
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are not distant from pain, grief, or impossible situations. As I read today, help me trust that You can enter even the places that feel dead and bring real life. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:18, 24–25 – “While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.’…He said, ‘Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at Him…He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.”
Daily Topic – Faith in the Face of Laughter
The synagogue official comes to Jesus in the rawness of grief and still confesses faith: “She will live.” When Jesus declares that the girl is not dead but asleep, the people laugh at Him, revealing how limited human perspective can be. Yet Jesus does not need their approval or agreement to do what He intends to do; He enters the room, takes the girl by the hand, and she gets up.
The Good Shepherd steps into our deepest grief and hopelessness, undeterred by the cynicism or unbelief around us. He invites us to trust His word over the “laughter” of doubt, fear, and the opinions of others.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Name one situation in your life (or in your family/church) that feels “dead” or beyond hope.
Picture Jesus walking into that “room” and taking it by the hand; write a short prayer saying, “Lord, I invite You to enter this situation and do what only You can do.”
Identify one “voice of laughter” (cynicism, fear, past disappointment) that keeps you from trusting Him fully, and choose a specific scripture to speak over that voice this week.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You are not intimidated by what looks dead to me. Strengthen my faith to invite You into every room of my life, even the painful and hopeless places. Help me listen to Your voice above the laughter of doubt, and teach me to walk in expectant trust. Amen.
Day 5 – The Shepherd Who Goes, Heals, and Sends
Opening Prayer
Jesus, thank You that You do not wait for hurting people to come find You, but You go toward them with compassion. Shape my heart to reflect Yours as I consider how You move, heal, and send. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:27–28, 30 – “As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’…And their eyes were opened.”
Matthew 9:35–36 – “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 14:14; Luke 7:13; Mark 1:41 – Jesus is repeatedly “moved with compassion” and responds by healing, raising, and touching the hurting.
Daily Topic – Eyes Opened and Hearts Moved
The blind men could not see Jesus, but they cried out to Him as the Son of David, and their eyes were opened because they believed He was able. Over and over, Scripture shows Jesus moved with compassion—seeing crowds, grieving mothers, and isolated lepers, and responding by going, healing, and restoring.
He does not simply sit and wait; He actively moves through cities and villages, teaching, proclaiming, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.
When we see Jesus, we see His love, His spiritual care, His willingness to be interrupted, and His willingness to walk with hurting people. As His sheep, and also as His ambassadors, we are invited to receive this compassion and then carry it into our own neighborhoods, churches, and circles.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Pray: “Lord, open my eyes to see people around me the way You see them—as sheep without a shepherd.” Sit quietly and let Him bring one or two specific people to mind.
Write their names down, and next to each one, write a simple act of compassion you could offer this week (a meal, a text, an invitation to your table, a prayer in person).
Choose at least one of those actions and schedule a time and day to do it, treating it as an expression of the Good Shepherd’s heart through you.
Closing Prayer
Good Shepherd, thank You for opening my eyes to see Your compassion and Your movement toward the hurting. Open my spiritual eyes like the blind men, that I would trust what You are able to do in and through me. Make me willing to be interrupted, to go, and to love others as You have loved me. Amen.
based on a sermon preached by Tim Bach, 3/22/26
Day 1 – The Good Shepherd Who Sees
Opening Prayer
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You see me right where I am today. Open my heart to Your word and help me hear Your voice clearly as I spend this time with You. Amen.
Scripture Reading
John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
Matthew 9:36 – “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Daily Topic – Seen and Shepherded
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd because He not only leads but also lays down His life for His sheep.
In Matthew 9:36, He looks at the crowds and feels deep compassion because they are distressed and dispirited, like sheep without anyone to guide or protect them. Our issues have not changed; we still wander, fear, and grow weary, but our Shepherd has not changed either. He sees your needs, your confusion, your exhaustion, and moves toward you with compassion, not condemnation. You are not invisible to Him; you are deeply known, fully seen, and still fully loved.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Take five quiet minutes and ask the Holy Spirit to show you one area where you feel “distressed and dispirited” right now.
Write a short prayer describing that area honestly to Jesus, trusting that He sees you with compassion.
Next to that prayer, write this sentence: “Jesus, my Good Shepherd, You see me here, and You are not leaving me alone in this. Guide me through this.”
Closing Prayer
Good Shepherd, thank You that You see my distress and You are moved with compassion, not disappointment. I surrender this weary place in my life to Your care and leadership today, and I trust that You will guide me step by step. Lead me as one of Your sheep, and help me rest in the truth that I am never unseen and never alone. Amen.
Day 2 – The Shepherd Who Forgives and Calls
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that one of the greatest proofs of Your love is Your willingness to sacrifice Yourself for me. As I read Your word today, help me receive Your forgiveness and respond to Your call. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:2 – “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’”
Matthew 9:9 – “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he got up and followed Him.”
Daily Topic – Forgiven and Invited to Follow
The Good Shepherd does more than fix outward problems; He goes straight to the heart, forgiving sins and restoring relationship. To the paralytic, Jesus speaks courage and forgiveness before He speaks healing, showing that spiritual restoration is His first priority.
To Matthew, the tax collector, Jesus simply says, “Follow Me,” and Matthew gets up and follows, leaving behind an old life and identity. The same Good Shepherd looks at you with full knowledge of your past and present and still says, “Take courage, your sins are forgiven…Follow Me.” His call is immediate, personal, and transformative, inviting you out of spiritual paralysis and into a life of obedience and trust.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Ask the Lord to bring to mind one area where you feel spiritually “stuck” or ashamed.
Confess it honestly to Him, then audibly speak this phrase: “Take courage, my sins are forgiven in Christ.”
Ask: “Jesus, what does ‘Follow Me’ look like in this area today?” Write down one concrete step of obedience (a conversation, a confession, a changed habit) and commit to do it within the next 24–48 hours. Remember that the Holy Spirit is your power source. Ask him to give you power to take that step of obedience.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You forgive my sins and do not leave me sitting in my old patterns. Give me the power of your Holy Spirit so that I can courageously stand up, leave behind what keeps me seated, and follow You in obedience today. Help me to hear and respond to Your voice above all others. Amen.
Day 3 – The Shepherd of the Broken and Hidden
Opening Prayer
Father, thank You that in Your Son, the Good Shepherd, You pursue those who are hiding and broken. Open my eyes to see how You come close to my pain and how You restore what feels beyond repair. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:20, 22 – “And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak…But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.’ At once the woman was made well.”
Matthew 9:32–33 – “As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him. After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke…”
Daily Topic – Found, Healed, and Given a Voice
The woman with the hemorrhage approached Jesus anonymously, hoping perhaps to receive healing without being noticed. Yet Jesus stops, turns, sees her, and calls her “Daughter,” affirming not just her healing but her identity and belonging. Likewise, the mute, demon-possessed man is brought to Jesus, and after deliverance, he is able to speak; the
Good Shepherd takes broken people and gives them a voice.
Jesus finds the people who are hiding, those who feel nameless, voiceless, and too broken to come boldly. He does not merely fix their circumstance; He restores their dignity, identity, and capacity to speak and live as His beloved.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Reflect: In what ways do you feel hidden, nameless, or voiceless right now—before God or before others?
Write down the word “Daughter” or “Son” (whichever applies) and beneath it list two or three truths about your identity in Christ (forgiven, loved, chosen, seen).
Ask Jesus: “Where are You inviting me to step out of hiding and use my voice?” This might be sharing your story, speaking encouragement, or naming a need. Choose one practical way to “speak” this week and do it.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, Good Shepherd, thank You that You see me when I try to stay in the background and that You call me by name. Heal the places in me that feel broken, silenced, or ashamed, and give me courage to live as Your beloved child. Use my restored voice to bless others and point them back to You. Amen.
Day 4 – The Shepherd Who Enters Our Grief
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are not distant from pain, grief, or impossible situations. As I read today, help me trust that You can enter even the places that feel dead and bring real life. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:18, 24–25 – “While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.’…He said, ‘Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.’ And they began laughing at Him…He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.”
Daily Topic – Faith in the Face of Laughter
The synagogue official comes to Jesus in the rawness of grief and still confesses faith: “She will live.” When Jesus declares that the girl is not dead but asleep, the people laugh at Him, revealing how limited human perspective can be. Yet Jesus does not need their approval or agreement to do what He intends to do; He enters the room, takes the girl by the hand, and she gets up.
The Good Shepherd steps into our deepest grief and hopelessness, undeterred by the cynicism or unbelief around us. He invites us to trust His word over the “laughter” of doubt, fear, and the opinions of others.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Name one situation in your life (or in your family/church) that feels “dead” or beyond hope.
Picture Jesus walking into that “room” and taking it by the hand; write a short prayer saying, “Lord, I invite You to enter this situation and do what only You can do.”
Identify one “voice of laughter” (cynicism, fear, past disappointment) that keeps you from trusting Him fully, and choose a specific scripture to speak over that voice this week.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You that You are not intimidated by what looks dead to me. Strengthen my faith to invite You into every room of my life, even the painful and hopeless places. Help me listen to Your voice above the laughter of doubt, and teach me to walk in expectant trust. Amen.
Day 5 – The Shepherd Who Goes, Heals, and Sends
Opening Prayer
Jesus, thank You that You do not wait for hurting people to come find You, but You go toward them with compassion. Shape my heart to reflect Yours as I consider how You move, heal, and send. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:27–28, 30 – “As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’…And their eyes were opened.”
Matthew 9:35–36 – “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 14:14; Luke 7:13; Mark 1:41 – Jesus is repeatedly “moved with compassion” and responds by healing, raising, and touching the hurting.
Daily Topic – Eyes Opened and Hearts Moved
The blind men could not see Jesus, but they cried out to Him as the Son of David, and their eyes were opened because they believed He was able. Over and over, Scripture shows Jesus moved with compassion—seeing crowds, grieving mothers, and isolated lepers, and responding by going, healing, and restoring.
He does not simply sit and wait; He actively moves through cities and villages, teaching, proclaiming, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.
When we see Jesus, we see His love, His spiritual care, His willingness to be interrupted, and His willingness to walk with hurting people. As His sheep, and also as His ambassadors, we are invited to receive this compassion and then carry it into our own neighborhoods, churches, and circles.
Life Application Follow-Up Exercise
Pray: “Lord, open my eyes to see people around me the way You see them—as sheep without a shepherd.” Sit quietly and let Him bring one or two specific people to mind.
Write their names down, and next to each one, write a simple act of compassion you could offer this week (a meal, a text, an invitation to your table, a prayer in person).
Choose at least one of those actions and schedule a time and day to do it, treating it as an expression of the Good Shepherd’s heart through you.
Closing Prayer
Good Shepherd, thank You for opening my eyes to see Your compassion and Your movement toward the hurting. Open my spiritual eyes like the blind men, that I would trust what You are able to do in and through me. Make me willing to be interrupted, to go, and to love others as You have loved me. Amen.
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