If you sit down and really think about it, do you realize, written from the very beginning, scripture gives us accounts on the prophesy of Jesus as our savior, redeemer, Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Risen Christ! What other title, could we possibly think to give Jesus, as if those wasn’t already enough!
As you know the front line workers of the world are in the midst of this pandemic while sacrificing so much of themselves for others welfare. Such a duty calls for, (As I always have said) a special type of person. Such can also be said about Jesus! He was a special type of person that not only was sinless sacrifice and the Son of the Living God that now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. While leaving with us the Holy Spirit, a third person of the trinity which we all have encountered as Christians in some way, we are to encounter the ‘True Shepherd’ in a delightful and strong way that does seem to surpass all understanding. Let me try to give an example of a modern day Farmer towards my explanation. A farmer has a great responsibility don’t they! They tend the crops and livestock, all while knowing their decisions can have a significant impact on the culture and lively hood in todays world of not only food, but appearal and so many other materials farmers produce.
In the days of Jesus, sheep was a well known and extensive livestock that had many uses. Since the work of a shepherd seemed to many a degrading job, I think Jesus made a Shepherd in his ministry a great example as we, the human race, are much like the sheep. Rather ignorant at times, needs nearly constant attention and corrective direction and has habits that can be very damaging to the land as well of itself just to name a few. So thinking on it, being a shepherd has its very dauting tasks ahead of him that was extremely demanding, smelly and surely didn’t pay well. For me, and maybe others, I could not comprehend actually being a shepherd. But my friends, we each are called to be and example of Christ in every aspect of the word. We are NOT the ‘True Shepherd’, but we serve the ‘True Shepherd’.
Another real challenge a Shepherd has I think is the urge to resist the temptation to take that staff that is suppose to help them, and wack these sheep on the head to ultimately prevent them from doing themselves hard and to pay attention. Such is what happen to Israel!
In the Book of Judges, listen to this excerpt of God telling Israel a very important statement:
11 And the Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines? 12 And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands. 13 Yet you abandoned Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 15 Then the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, do to us whatever [f]seems good to You; only please save us this day.” 16 So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and [g]He (GOD) could no longer endure the misery of Israel.
Gods heart melted! Gods tentative ear listened carefully and heard their earnest cry’s. God is moved by our will to seek him, not referee, but our Savior, a true genuine shepherd to help us.
A shepherd is a Guide
All the times Israel failed God, and all the times God saved them, God Guided Them, goes without saying how Jesus, our shepherd, loves us all beyond words and deeds could ever describe. The true shepherd guides the flock.
God did have to remind them many times just how important it was to ask for Guidance, and as a reminder, what do we ‘REALLY’ have control over? Does not scripture tells us ‘In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path’. Your path will be lite up, bright and flowing for your travels. But being our guide is one part of it.
A shepherd corrects his flock
Well known stigma of a shepherd is the famous shepherds hook staff I mentioned earlier. It varies in size but has a signature curl to it that is designed to both pull a sheep out of a dangerous spot and even give it a corrected action when needed. This correction is for the welfare of the sheep and it is this correction that is very important for the life of the sheep. Without correction in a sinful world, we would have no hope! We would all fall into our ‘Own Devices’ that will ultimately destroy us.
God Corrects Those He Loves!
A shepherd Protects
The first example that came to my mind of a Shepherd protecting his flock that came to mind is Psalms 23 which I think we all know or heard in some form. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!”
The ‘True shepherd’, listen carefully to his flock, a true shepherd has his flock’s best interests and protection in mind. Do not never get the idea we can fully protect ourselves, but scripture says ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’. Lets think about it for a minute. When sheep has a shepherd that Guides them, Corrects them and Protects them, that is what the best interests of the sheep God has.
Are we starting to get the idea of what a ‘True Shepherd’ means?
If you was to apply for a job at any time in our lives, the one for sure question you will have to answer ‘What qualifications do you have?’ You see, no one whom has ever lived can even be worthy to read the resume of the ‘True Shepherd’. My friends Knowing Jesus isn’t enough,
it’s the relationship Say That With Me!
All the flock can be saved, IF we chose to be. A valuable faction here is for us to listen! No, not with your ears, but the spirit that God has given to each of us. Whom ever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
His sheep will have constant sustenance for the soul
I immediately think about this current pandemic we are in, how shortage of food and supplies seem to run ramped. Without a doubt such an event will always raise cause for concern but what Jesus is telling us here is ‘Do Not Fret!’, I got this! Our sustenance, or the needs we have, will always be met. Remember when I said earlier in Christ’s strength what we can do?? Well here it applies, and we do so in Faith. A song comes to mind here ‘My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness’.
Inclosing;
We all live in uncertain times my friends, but that is not an excuse which Christ is telling us. Its so easy to give up and give in especially when we are weak and ill, but remember your ‘True Shepherd’ and what he promises and in his strength will you find what your looking for and even what you need.