The Good Shepherd
Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations that began some 5,000 years ago. For the most part, shepherds’ duties were to keep their sheep intact, protect them from danger, and guide them from pasture to pasture. Many great people in the Bible were shepherds: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, King David, Amos the prophet, to name a few. The greatest Shepherd was and still is Jesus!
Let’s face it. We humans have a tendency to put ourselves in harm's way. Just like sheep, we can wander off into dangerous places or get stuck in the crevices of life and can’t get out. Sometimes we can’t find our way and we need direction. We even fail to listen for the voice of the Shepherd because we think we know where we’re going. It’s in those moments when we realize that we are stuck or in trouble that we call out to Him and ask Him to rescue us.
Praise God for a Shepherd that loves us and faithfully watches over us! Because He experienced humanity, He understands our temptations and emotions. Thank God He left us the Holy Spirit to provide guidance and direction, especially when we lose our way. How awesome that the Lord left us the Word to keep us and show us the way. Above all, praise God for His unfailing, unconditional love. The kind of love that drops everything to find that one lost sheep!
Every sheep, that’s you and me, are precious to Him. He does not want one of us to be lost or harmed. While we are sleeping, He’s watching. While the pandemic is raging, He’s protecting. While division and unrest rise up, He’s pushing it back. While trials and problems try to prevail, He overcomes. He never sleeps or nods off; He never gets distracted; His light never grows dim; and He never remembers our mistakes once forgiven.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. There are no mountains He can’t climb or dark valleys He can’t reach to get to us. There are no obstacles He can’t take down and no strongholds He can’t smash. There are no chains He can’t break and no generational curses He can’t erase. Why? Because Jesus loves you so much that He will do whatever is necessary to get to and protect His sheep.
If you are feeling unwanted, lost or less than, confused, overwhelmed or lonely, remember this: You are a child of the King. You are a loved and wanted sheep of His pasture. Even in the midst of the pandemic and any crisis you face, your Good Shepherd is right by your side. He sees you and He’s always ready to save and restore. Run to Him and find rest in His pasture.
“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I Myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find My sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day...I will feed them on the mountains...Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I Myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for My lost ones who strayed away and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.” Ezekiel 34: 11-16
Prayer
Lord,
I remain confident of this: I will see Your goodness in the land of the living. I will wait for You; I will be strong and take heart and wait for You. The lowly You set on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. I won’t be afraid, for You are with me. I won’t be discouraged, for You are my God. You will strengthen me and help me. You will hold me up with Your victorious right hand. You are my Good Shepherd, I lack nothing. You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside quiet waters, You refresh my soul. You guide me along the right paths for Your name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. I praise You and keep my eyes on You, my Good Shepherd. Amen!
Now, Sing of His Wreckless Love for You
WRECKLESS LOVE - Worship Song with Lyrics
Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash
Let’s face it. We humans have a tendency to put ourselves in harm's way. Just like sheep, we can wander off into dangerous places or get stuck in the crevices of life and can’t get out. Sometimes we can’t find our way and we need direction. We even fail to listen for the voice of the Shepherd because we think we know where we’re going. It’s in those moments when we realize that we are stuck or in trouble that we call out to Him and ask Him to rescue us.
Praise God for a Shepherd that loves us and faithfully watches over us! Because He experienced humanity, He understands our temptations and emotions. Thank God He left us the Holy Spirit to provide guidance and direction, especially when we lose our way. How awesome that the Lord left us the Word to keep us and show us the way. Above all, praise God for His unfailing, unconditional love. The kind of love that drops everything to find that one lost sheep!
Every sheep, that’s you and me, are precious to Him. He does not want one of us to be lost or harmed. While we are sleeping, He’s watching. While the pandemic is raging, He’s protecting. While division and unrest rise up, He’s pushing it back. While trials and problems try to prevail, He overcomes. He never sleeps or nods off; He never gets distracted; His light never grows dim; and He never remembers our mistakes once forgiven.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. There are no mountains He can’t climb or dark valleys He can’t reach to get to us. There are no obstacles He can’t take down and no strongholds He can’t smash. There are no chains He can’t break and no generational curses He can’t erase. Why? Because Jesus loves you so much that He will do whatever is necessary to get to and protect His sheep.
If you are feeling unwanted, lost or less than, confused, overwhelmed or lonely, remember this: You are a child of the King. You are a loved and wanted sheep of His pasture. Even in the midst of the pandemic and any crisis you face, your Good Shepherd is right by your side. He sees you and He’s always ready to save and restore. Run to Him and find rest in His pasture.
“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I Myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find My sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day...I will feed them on the mountains...Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I Myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for My lost ones who strayed away and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.” Ezekiel 34: 11-16
Prayer
Lord,
I remain confident of this: I will see Your goodness in the land of the living. I will wait for You; I will be strong and take heart and wait for You. The lowly You set on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. I won’t be afraid, for You are with me. I won’t be discouraged, for You are my God. You will strengthen me and help me. You will hold me up with Your victorious right hand. You are my Good Shepherd, I lack nothing. You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside quiet waters, You refresh my soul. You guide me along the right paths for Your name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. I praise You and keep my eyes on You, my Good Shepherd. Amen!
Now, Sing of His Wreckless Love for You
WRECKLESS LOVE - Worship Song with Lyrics
Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash
Posted in Walking In Grace
Posted in Good Shepherd, Lost, Unwanted, Confused, Overwhelmed, Lonely, Sheep
Posted in Good Shepherd, Lost, Unwanted, Confused, Overwhelmed, Lonely, Sheep
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