The Lord is My Shepherd
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me..." (Psalm 23:1-4)
O how wonderful it is to know that we are not alone! We have a Shepherd to LOOK to, LISTEN to, and LEAN on continually as we live in a broken world and navigate through different and often difficult seasons of life.
When we understand all that goes into being a shepherd and how each individual sheep is perfectly cared for by a true shepherd, we can find great help and hope in knowing that our Lord is the Shepherd of our souls.
Let's consider some of the ways that our Shepherd is at work in our lives...
First of all, He is personal. He is not someone else's shepherd. He is MY shepherd. He belongs to me and I belong to him. This means that whenever we have a need, our shepherd already knows that need and knows how to meet that need. We are in the best of hands with our Shepherd and Lord Jesus.
Secondly, He is purposeful. He knows what He is doing at all times and always does what is best for us. He intentionally makes us lie down in green pastures. He intentionally leads us beside the still waters. He intentionally and eventually restores our souls no matter what we have been through or what has damaged our spirit.
Thirdly, He is provisional. He provides for our every need. He has a rod and a staff for protection and direction and correction, a table for our sustenance and nourishment, and a cup to anoint us and satisfy us. His leadership means that we will be well provided for and that will be right where He wants us to be and when He wants us to be there. He "shall supply all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).
Finally, He is present. He is with us even when we are in the darkest and most lonely times in our lives. He is "near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as a have a contrite spirit" (Ps. 34:18). He comes to us so intimately that David changes the way he sees and addresses his God and shepherd when he is in the hardest times of his life. Instead of speaking about the Lord in third person point of view, he changes to first person point of view as he learns the fellowship in suffering and simply says to the Lord, "for You are with me".
As we closely follow our Shepherd, we will become so familiar with His voice and walking in step with Him that we will become more like Him. The more we become like Him, the more, we will become sheep who shepherd others to know and follow the Shepherd.
Jesus alone is the door that turns lost sheep into redeemed sheep who become like shepherds.
Jesus said, "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:2-4).
He was born in humble beginnings in the same city as King David and was first made known to the shepherds that he might forever be associated with those who take care of the sheep.
“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” (Matt. 2:6)
The greatest thing about our Good Shepherd is that He loves us with such a deep and sacrificial love that He is willing to give and lay down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). There is no greater love than this! Jesus was sent to be our Shepherd so that we can forever be the sheep of His pasture. O how sweet and safe and secure it is to be in the flock of our Shepherd!
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me..." (Psalm 23:1-4)
O how wonderful it is to know that we are not alone! We have a Shepherd to LOOK to, LISTEN to, and LEAN on continually as we live in a broken world and navigate through different and often difficult seasons of life.
When we understand all that goes into being a shepherd and how each individual sheep is perfectly cared for by a true shepherd, we can find great help and hope in knowing that our Lord is the Shepherd of our souls.
Let's consider some of the ways that our Shepherd is at work in our lives...
First of all, He is personal. He is not someone else's shepherd. He is MY shepherd. He belongs to me and I belong to him. This means that whenever we have a need, our shepherd already knows that need and knows how to meet that need. We are in the best of hands with our Shepherd and Lord Jesus.
Secondly, He is purposeful. He knows what He is doing at all times and always does what is best for us. He intentionally makes us lie down in green pastures. He intentionally leads us beside the still waters. He intentionally and eventually restores our souls no matter what we have been through or what has damaged our spirit.
Thirdly, He is provisional. He provides for our every need. He has a rod and a staff for protection and direction and correction, a table for our sustenance and nourishment, and a cup to anoint us and satisfy us. His leadership means that we will be well provided for and that will be right where He wants us to be and when He wants us to be there. He "shall supply all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).
Finally, He is present. He is with us even when we are in the darkest and most lonely times in our lives. He is "near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as a have a contrite spirit" (Ps. 34:18). He comes to us so intimately that David changes the way he sees and addresses his God and shepherd when he is in the hardest times of his life. Instead of speaking about the Lord in third person point of view, he changes to first person point of view as he learns the fellowship in suffering and simply says to the Lord, "for You are with me".
As we closely follow our Shepherd, we will become so familiar with His voice and walking in step with Him that we will become more like Him. The more we become like Him, the more, we will become sheep who shepherd others to know and follow the Shepherd.
Jesus alone is the door that turns lost sheep into redeemed sheep who become like shepherds.
Jesus said, "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:2-4).
He was born in humble beginnings in the same city as King David and was first made known to the shepherds that he might forever be associated with those who take care of the sheep.
“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” (Matt. 2:6)
The greatest thing about our Good Shepherd is that He loves us with such a deep and sacrificial love that He is willing to give and lay down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). There is no greater love than this! Jesus was sent to be our Shepherd so that we can forever be the sheep of His pasture. O how sweet and safe and secure it is to be in the flock of our Shepherd!
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
- How are you not seeing Jesus as your personal Shepherd in this season?
- What is that you have been afraid of and how can your Shepherd help restore you?
- Are you dwelling in the presence of your Shepherd and trusting His provision? Do so now!
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