The Good Shepherd

 The Lord is my Shepherd

Have you ever wondered what a shepherd is to his sheep? 

Whenever I see a picture or a video of a shepherd and his sheep, it always reminds me of how dependent sheep are on their shepherd. They go wherever he goes. If it is time to sit and rest, or stand up and go, the sheep need to do the same. And luckily for them, the shepherd knows where the water is and where the green pastures are. All that the sheep need to do is to follow their shepherd and his voice.

When David wrote in Ps 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd” he had first-hand knowledge of what it meant to be a shepherd, because he was one. He knew all the ins and outs of being a shepherd, and he most definitely knew the responsibility that comes with being a shepherd. 

The amplified Bible enlarged three aspects of being a Shepherd, and still today, I believe that this is God’s heart towards you and me - if we allow Him to be our Shepherd. It says “to feed, to guide and to shield”. 

“To feed” speaks of God’s heart to provide for our daily needs -  Jesus even taught us to pray this - “give us today our daily bread”. As a Shepherd, God’s heart is not for us to go hungry or to be in lack. 

“To guide” speaks of God’s heart to guide us through life. “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”. He knows the future from the beginning, and he wants to lead us into the plans and purposes He has for our lives because He created us and He knows us!

“To shield” speaks of God’s heart to protect us! To protect us against evil, to protect us against dangerous situations, and not to harm us! I don’t know if I have ever seen a shepherd standing by and looking at one of his sheep being attacked by a wolf! No, on the contrary, we read about the parable of the shepherd that will leave the 99 and go after the one that is lost.

If you feel lost today, if you experience lack, if you sense that you are being attacked, just call on Jesus - His heart was, and is, and will always be - to feed, guide and shield you! Rest in knowing that He is a Good Shepherd and He knows what you need (even before you ask). Talk to Him like a friend and tell Him what is in your heart.

He promises: I will never leave you, nor forsake you. Be encouraged, the Shepherd will look after you.

@Always.in.tune