“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me; just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:14-16
I saw this beautiful wall hanging in an ad on Facebook recently and thought it would be a good reminder to hang next to my intrusive screen. As it turns out, I need a good reminder quite often. A reminder to turn off the clutter from this fallen world that appears on the television and open a book…a Good Book. This picture is a good reminder that I have strayed, my body is dirty, I am probably helplessly stuck in a mud hole and I need to see the Good Shepherd coming to find me…again.
Thinking back to what I recall about the Good Shepherd from past Bible studies, I know that the Good Shepherd has a close relationship with His sheep. The sheep recognize and respond to His voice by faith. In turn, He knows them each by name and leads them where they should go and rescues them. This relationship is even compared to the intimate relationship between our Heavenly Father and His Son.
The Good Shepherd intends a full or abundant life for His sheep. He is the gate or way the only way to salvation, and it is absolutely secure in God’s hands. Nothing in all the universe is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep sacrificially, giving His life for them. He does so out of love and obedience to His Father as well as on His own authority. Furthermore, His sacrificial love isn’t the end of the story; He holds authority over death and the grave. They cannot hold Him. He will take up His life again! The Good Shepherd is coming to rescue you, me and a whole flock of kids in Haiti.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay