When you start a business, you do everything yourself. You do the buying and the selling. You get your hands dirty and assemble the product. You receive the money and spend it again. This is called a one-man business. 

As your business grows, you start appointing people. People to help with marketing, purchasing and manufacturing. People who help get the product to the customers and administrative staff to help the office run smoothly. 

All of a sudden you are no longer doing what you were doing at the beginning. You now wear neat clothes and don’t get your hands dirty anymore. More often you sit with the figures and plan the future of the business. Yes, and later you become the personnel manager too who knows everyone’s personal story and must address their needs. 

When something goes wrong, everyone runs to you. If the finances are shaky, you must take responsibility. If the customers are unhappy, they phone you. If the product is not up to standard, you need to make a plan. As the saying goes: The buck stops here! Everything ends up on your desk and you are the one who must deal with it.  

It makes you tired and later you wonder why you got so big. Can’t you just go back to being a one-man business? 

However, Jesus put up His hand for this position. He is the Shepherd seeing to every need of His sheep. He is the One who wants to help everyone with their problems and challenges. If there are challenges, He wants to provide solutions. 

Jesus, the Shepherd, really cares. He wants to make sure that your life is not put in danger. He wants to lead you to green pastures where you will be well. He wants to ensure that wherever you live, work and play in the world, you will not fail. 

25You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going.  

We stumbled around in the dark. Sometimes we crash because of our bad choices. We bear the scars, but thankfully we lost sheep returned to the Shepherd. 

He is our Guardian. The Greek word used here for guardian literally means overseer or even bishop or head of the church. That is exactly who Jesus is. It’s His job to look after God’s people in the world. 

He ensures that God’s church, God’s business in the world, is doing well. If there are problems with any of the members of God’s church, they can go to Him. He would like to help. He’s the personnel manager who enjoys taking care of everyone. He wants to help, and He wants to give wisdom. Yes, the buck stops here! 

Are you struggling? Do you have challenges on your path that are too big to handle? Are you hurt? Do you need wisdom? Go to the Head, the Manager, the Supervisor, the One who holds all the strings together. He would like to help. 

Scripture
1 Peter 2:21-25 

Reflection
Who manages your life?
Where do you have to move closer to the Guardian?
How can you give the Head of the church in the world more time in your life? 

Prayer
Jesus, I cannot be without You. Jesus, I cannot be without You. I acknowledge You as the guardian, the CEO of my life. I would like to spend more and more time in Your presence. Amen.