John 10: 14-15
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for
the sheep.”
Jesus loved to use parables… life-transforming concepts. He
loved to use real settings, characters, and ideas to reveal God’s heart of love
to his listeners.
In the next few devotions I’m hoping to look at a few of Jesus’
parables of that will help us understand some of our situations, mindsets, and
beliefs about who God is.
Have you ever had a sense of your own smallness in
comparison to the vastness of our world, let alone the universe? And think why
would God consider me?
One of my favorite Scriptures is God as the Good Shepherd.
Just think, Jesus holds all of creation in the palm of his
hand, and yet he knows the number of hairs on our head.
Today’s scripture says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my
own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and
I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Jesus paved the way for us to enter into the most amazing
pasture of all: the very presence of the living God. He laid down his life as
our Good Shepherd that we could have everlasting life and live with Him
forever.
But the Lord didn’t only provide us a way to heaven; He
continually leads us as our Good Shepherd everyday… day in and day out.
David wrote in the 23rd Psalm verses 1-6, “The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they
comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you
anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
God’s staff is meant to comfort us. As our Good Shepherd he
promises to lead us daily to the plans he has for us. That doesn’t always mean
that we will be led out of “the valley of the shadow of death,” but that in the
valley he will “prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies.”
Our comfort is the fact that God will never leave us or
forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Listen closely to what Psalm 139:9-10 says, “If I take the
wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there
your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
God is always with us, even if in times of trouble He seems
distant. Any sense of distance from the Lord is only because of our
perspective. He is always near; He will lead us and direct us if we allow Him
to.
Our heavenly Father longs to guide you today. And God
promises to be your Good Shepherd. Each one of us have the most high God on our
side. Trust in His leadership for your life…
Jesus was faithful to come and die so that each one of us
might have eternal life. And if He was faithful to lead you to salvation, then
He will certainly lead you through whatever trial we may find ourselves going
through now or in the future.
Our God is a trustworthy Shepherd and He will guide you and
I, perfectly and in his perfect timing.
Our part is to cast our cares on Jesus and trust Him, by allowing
Him to “make straight our paths” as we follow the leadership of the Holy
Spirit.
Just as Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all
your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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