The Shepherd
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. I know My Father as My Father knows Me. I give My life for the sheep.”- John 10:14-15 NLV
A shepherd is an individual who leads, directs, guards and protects with his own life the flock of animals he has been given charge over. In this case, the animals happen to be sheep. It’s interesting that God would use sheep to represent humans. What do we know about sheep? They are dumb as a post. They follow whoever leads them wherever they lead them. They wander off and get stuck in a thicket, or a ravine, or a ditch and the shepherd must come to its aid. Whether we would like to admit it or not, we are very much like sheep. Sheep readily recognize the voice of their shepherd, however, are prone to let their curiosity get the better of them. When predators close in, the shepherd is there to fend them off. When a thicket or ditch becomes a sheep’s destination, the shepherd will literally leave the entire flock to go in search of that one that is missing.
I believe man’s first problem when it comes to God is their seeming inability to admit that they need help from anyone, let alone some unseen deity. They believe this to their own eventual peril, for it is this “unseen deity” and onlyHim, who offer forgiveness and hope. There is nothing on this earth, no matter how grandiose, that can forgive sins or offer hope of a better tomorrow. God alone freely offers this in exchange for our surrender.
Just as the shepherd would literally give his life to protect his flock, so Christ did give His own life for the salvation of mankind. For those who have embraced salvation, we know His voice. Out of this knowing, emerge faith and trust, reliance and hope. We cling to promises, such as “I am the same yesterday, today and forever”(Hebrews 13:8) and “Fear not, for I am with you”. (Isaiah 41:10) As we familiarize ourselves with His nature and the multitude of promises He has laid out in scripture, we begin to see why complete reliance and trust in Him is necessary to experience the full range of blessings He has prepared for His children. He guides and directs us into the greenest of pastures for our own sake. To receive all Christ has for us, we must surrender … for without complete surrender, we are blinded by everything this world represents and prone to being led down a path that may lead to our destruction. Focus on the Lord. Seek Him. Strive to know Him. He will honor that request and as a result your life will never be the same. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller
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