The Good Shepherd (2)
Friday January 24, 2014
Jesus claimed to be the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. The following scripture tells us how the Good Shepherd takes care of us when we accept His invitation to come into His sheepfold.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. (Psalm 23 NKJV)
Let’s suppose you were a little sheep and you were wandering around on a hillside with no one to take care of you, or protect you. Every other sheep is like you wandering aimlessly doing its own thing. Then, walking along the hillside appears a good shepherd who offers to care for and protect you. Now, if you were a wise sheep you would accept what the good shepherd is offering and let him take care of you. But, if you were an unwise sheep you might say, “No, I don’t want the shepherd to protect and care for me. I want to fight my own enemies; I want to live life in my own way.” If the unwise sheep did that then it will live its life wandering around on the hillside without the care and protection of the Good Shepherd. It will face many dangers on its own.
Shepherd was a term used throughout scripture to refer to the care of our Heavenly Father for His creation. Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. God loved the world so much that He gave his Son, his one and only Son to die for our sins. He did this so that no one need live life without the care and protection of the Shepherd. By believing in Jesus we have new life and have it more abundantly. The Bible tells us that if we come to Him we will never perish and that we will have eternal life. Will you allow this Great Shepherd of the sheep to be your saviour? Will you accept His love and provision for you?
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11 NIV)
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