I am thankful to be able to post the message this week. I have been dealing with a lot this week. Things have been hard at work, my health is not good, and I am having transportation issues. Please pray that all of this can be resolved. I do hope and pray that all of you are doing well.
For the past couple of weeks, we have been having posts centered around Holy Week and Easter. Today, we are getting back to our series on some of the names and titles for God found in the Old Testament. In this message, I want us to focus on a familiar title for God. In many place in both the Old and New Testaments, God is referred to as our shepherd. The most familiar of these occurrences is in the 23rd Psalm that tells us, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want."
That verse is only one of the places in the Bible where we see God referred to as a shepherd. In Genesis 48:15, Jacob states that the Lord had been his shepherd throughout all of his life. That is so true for Jacob, because the Lord watched over him and directed him in many different ways.
Another place where we see God referred to as a shepherd is in Isaiah chapter 40. There, it tells us that the Lord is a shepherd who feeds His flock.
Jesus, who is God come in the flesh, tells us in John 10 that He is the Good Shepherd. By telling us this, He is letting us know that He is equating Himself with the God who is our shepherd in the Old Testament.
Well, what does this title for God signify for us? First of all, let us look at what a shepherd does. Sheep are not really able to take care of themselves all that well in most places in this world. In New Zealand, I know that there are large sheep operations where the sheep are only brought in a couple of times a year for dipping and shearing. They don't need quite as much care because they don't have the abundance of predators that exist in some other places. Even there, the sheep require a lot of care and maintenance. In places where there are wolves, coyotes and other large predators, sheep need to be watched by a shepherd or flock protection dogs on a constant basis.
Sheep need to be protected and looked after in order to survive and thrive. They can't make it on their own. The Lord is our shepherd. He protects us from the evil one. Those who are in Christ are protected from death, hell and the grave. We can only have eternal life through Him.
The Lord also makes sure that our needs are met. Just as the shepherd leads the flock to green pastures, the Lord God supplies our needs. The Bible says that He has provided us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
A shepherd leads the sheep. He makes sure that they don't get lost and separated from the flock. The Lord Jesus guides us in our life so that if we listen to Him, we will not go down the wrong path. If we listen to Him and His will for our lives, our lives will be better. We will also not be led astray by those who are telling us things that are contrary to the word and the will of the Lord.
Finally, shepherds go out after the lost sheep. Jesus said that He was like the shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep in the fold and went out looking for the sheep that was lost. We are all lost sheep that have gone astray that Bible says. Jesus comes looking for those who are outside of His fold. He wants everyone to find safety and refuge within His love and forgiveness. The angels in heaven rejoice when one lost sheep is found by the loving Good Shepherd.
I am grateful that the Good Shepherd the Lord Jesus is watching over me. I don't know how I would make it in this world if it were not for the Lord helping me along. I hope that you are in the fold of the loving Good Shepherd today. Let Him find you, and you will know what true life and true love is. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for my brother. He hurt his leg and has been having trouble.
Pray that they will get the harbor cleared out in Baltimore.
Please pray that the wind and the storms forecast in my area will not be bad this week.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for and end to the hostilities between Israel in Gaza. Pray for those trying to bring aid in that area. Pray for those who mourn for those lost this past week. Let us also pray for peace in Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Haiti, Libya and the other troubled areas of this world.
For our prayer focus countries this week let us pray for those in the nations of Gambia and Azerbaijan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
This week, I will post the verses on Monday. I will be posting the sermon on Friday or Saturday. I am holding off on posting the final part of the book until the next week. May God bless you all.
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