Understanding The Care Of God (2)
Tuesday June 28, 2016
How does Jesus make us safe and secure? Jesus died in our place on the cross so that we could receive forgiveness for our sins. Now he calls out to us to trust Him, follow Him, and find new life through Him. As we turn our will and our lives over to His care, and follow His plan for our lives, we will find the safety and protection we have been seeking throughout our lives.
Jesus said: The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (John 10:10-11 NLT)
When a shepherd is out on the hillside he goes before the sheep and they follow him to the green pastures and quiet waters that he finds for them. When evening comes, he looks for a safe place for the sheep to rest. He will fence an enclosure for the sheep and leave only a small opening to the area where they are. He then will lie across this opening, acting as a door. Nothing can get in or out of this enclosure unless the shepherd gives access. The shepherd protects the sheep from anyone or anything which may seek to harm them.
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)
Our Shepherd has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Others, who have been responsible for our care may have abandoned us and left us to cope with whatever danger came our way. Jesus will never leave us. He is the Good Shepherd and when His sheep are in trouble He comes alongside to protect and deliver them from whatever worries them. Like sheep, on our own we are not equipped to handle many things which come against us. When we feel anxious, we need to stay close to the Shepherd and let Him gently gather us up in His arms. The famous “Footprints” poem, describes a picture with a similar message of the kind comfort Jesus provides as He cares for us in stressful times.
Today, do we see the “Good Shepherd” as a Higher Power worth trusting our will and our life into His care?
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