Moving toward what is good and life giving is often faced with many challenges. This is not a coincidence. Jesus reminds us our story includes a thief of goodness, but also a good shepherd who offers abundant life.
We finally get a chance to connect with a friend, but a flat tire robs us of the moment.
A sickness steals the joy of our vacation.
And an interruption from our kid kills the lovemaking atmosphere with our wife.
Many times, these disruptions are just part of life. We accept them and move on.
But at other times, it’s helpful to consider if more is going on.
A different interpretation is needed if our story includes a thief that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy the goodness of life God is offering us. And a different interpretation leads to a different response.
In short, we don’t have to just take it. We don’t have to allow someone to simply rob us of God’s goodness without fighting back.
With the Good Shepherd, we can take a stand and resist.
For instance, friendship must be fought for. Rest and restoration must be fought for. And our sex life must also be fought for.
God doesn’t just want us to taste these things, he wants us to drink deeply – to enjoy them to the full and overflowing.
The surface particulars will vary, but the core intent remains. Jesus came to give us a rich and satisfying life.
While life has its many challenges, maybe it doesn’t have to be as bleak as we have allowed it to become. Maybe it’s time to stop allowing the thief to simply steal the joy from our life without fighting back.
Remember your story has a thief of goodness. Every good story does.
Resist and fight for all the good God has for you.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
5 Comments