Dear friends, if you know me, you know I’m a guy who loves Jesus, appreciates a good meal, and finds joy in the daily grind. Today’s devotion hit me deeply, and I want to share it with you—especially my Christian brothers and sisters who, like me, are striving to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd (John 10:27). To my non-Christian friends, you may not follow the same Shepherd, and that’s okay—you’re not adversaries but a precious mission field we’re called to love through our lives and example. I’m not here to judge or divide, but to reflect on God’s truth with humility, hoping it resonates with us all.
I’ll be honest: I get hungry well before dinner. By 3 p.m., my stomach’s rumbling, and I’m tempted to grab a quick snack to tide me over. The problem? That snack often dulls my appetite for the wholesome meal I really need. As Christians, we face a similar spiritual challenge. Certain habits, places, or even people can dim our hunger for God’s truth. They’re like spiritual junk food—tempting but leaving us less eager for our Shepherd’s voice. As C.S. Lewis wisely said, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.”
Yet, there are those whose faith inspires us. They don’t flaunt their godliness; they live it quietly, pointing us toward Jesus. Their example stirs our desire to follow Him more closely. That’s what Paul meant in Philippians 1:9: “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding” (NLT). For us sheep, there’s no standing still. No matter how much we love, we can love more. No matter how much we pray, we can pray deeper. No matter how much we know, there’s always more to learn about our Shepherd’s call.
Jesus put it this way: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6 NIV). That hunger drives us toward Christlikeness. Settling for “good enough” is risky for us Christians. As Jesus taught, “Unless you… become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NLT). He’s calling us to a childlike faith—always growing, always listening. Augustine captured it beautifully: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
Caroline Myss’s words from today’s devotion struck a chord: “Choose to get up every single day and bless your day. And you say I have no idea what’s going to be in my day but it is blessed, why? Because I am alive. And don’t base your gratitude for your life on what you have but just because you are. And then hold in your heart this: This day of my life will never come again. I will never see the people I am looking at again. I will never see this sunrise again and I will never see that sunset. I will never see the person having breakfast with me again. Just this way. You know, nothing in my life like this will ever come again. That alone, that choice alone should take out of your heart every bitter taste there is. That it should shape the life around you with such grace and such beauty. That will make you only want to see the present with great gratitude.” This perspective fills me with awe, urging me to live intentionally as Christ’s sheep. Who’s in your circle? Are they helping you hear the Shepherd’s voice or drowning it out with the world’s noise?
Today’s News: What Affects Us All, and What’s Just Passing By
Let’s take a moment to look at today’s news, which, as always, falls into categories—some stories impact everyone, while others are more distant. Here’s a closer look at three headlines from today, May 12, 2025:
1. US and China Agree to Slash Tariffs Temporarily: After tense talks in Geneva, the US and China have agreed to a 90-day reduction in tariffs, with the US dropping its levy on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, and China reducing its tariff on US goods from 125% to 10%. This follows a trade war that disrupted nearly $600 billion in bilateral trade, rattled markets, and raised fears of a global recession. The deal aims to ease supply chain disruptions and curb inflation, with stocks surging worldwide on the news.
2. Soviet Spacecraft Kosmos 482 Crashes into Indian Ocean: After 53 years in orbit, the failed Soviet Venus probe Kosmos 482 crashed into the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta on May 10, 2025, at 2:24 a.m. EDT. Launched in 1972, the spacecraft was stranded in Earth’s orbit due to a rocket malfunction. Designed to withstand Venus’s harsh atmosphere, it likely survived reentry intact but caused no reported damage or injuries. Experts note the low risk of such events, with oceans covering 71% of Earth’s surface.
3. Supercomputer Predicts Life on Earth Ends in a Billion Years: A supercomputer model has forecast that life on Earth will cease around the year 1,000,002,021 due to increasing solar radiation and atmospheric changes. This prediction, based on climate and astrophysical simulations, suggests Earth’s biosphere will collapse long before the sun becomes a red giant. Unless you’re planning to be around in a billion years, this is more of a scientific curiosity than an immediate concern.
What Affects Us All, and What Doesn’t
These stories illustrate two types of news: those that touch everyone and those that only matter to a few. The tariff deal between the US and China is a big one—it affects us all. Trade between these economic giants drives global markets, impacting prices for everything from electronics to groceries. Lower tariffs could ease inflation, stabilize supply chains, and boost jobs, but the temporary nature of the deal means uncertainty lingers. As Christians, we’re called to pray for wisdom for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and to steward our resources well, trusting God’s provision in economic ups and downs.
The Kosmos 482 crash, on the other hand, is a non-event for most of us. It landed harmlessly in the Indian Ocean, far from anyone’s home. Unless you’re a space enthusiast or live near the crash site (which no one does), it’s a footnote. Similarly, the supercomputer’s billion-year prediction is fascinating but irrelevant to our daily lives. It’s a reminder of Earth’s temporality, but as Christians, we know our hope is in eternity, not this world’s distant future (John 16:33).
There’s a third category, though, that we Christians must not overlook: the moral state of our world. Isaiah 5:20 warns, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” When society blurs God’s truth, the consequences—like broken families, cultural division, or spiritual apathy—affect everyone, not just those who stray. Yet 2 Peter 3:9 reveals God’s heart: He’s “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” That’s why we’re called to live as lights, showing the way to our Shepherd through our actions.
Our Call as Sheep of the Good Shepherd
So, my Christian friends, let’s respond as faithful sheep. First, follow our Shepherd closely. Romans 13:14 urges us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.” Second, share His truth with gentleness. Jeremiah 23:29 says God’s word is “like a fire… and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.” We don’t change hearts; His Spirit does through His truth. Third, point others to Jesus, not ourselves. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
To my non-Christian friends, I see your passion for justice and compassion—those reflect the Creator’s design. We Christians are called to live in a way that shows you the love and truth of our Good Shepherd, not to push or argue. As George Müller said, “When the day of recompense comes, our only regret will be that we have done so little for him, not that we have done too much.”
Let’s stay hungry for God’s truth, thirst for His righteousness, and keep following our Shepherd’s voice. That’s the path we were made for.
With gratitude and hope,
Cliff the door opener, and table/chair setter upper.