Brad never lacked for anything growing up. If he wanted it, his father would buy it for him. His father loved him, but his father also required he work a job in high school. Brad heard more than once, “It builds character.”
Brad had an attitude problem. He thought he knew best…at least better than his 49-year-old father. After all, he was 17! So, when Brad turned 18 he no longer hid his feelings. He rebelled in bold fashion and told his father he couldn’t tell him what to do any more. Brad, much like the prodigal son, explored the ways of the world. He tried…EVERYTHING. He eventually found the love of his life. They got married and he settled down. After a couple of years, Brad became a father himself. That first moment he held that new baby in his arms he felt excitement, pride, fear, joy, and anxiety all at the same time. He was suddenly horrified and humbled as to how he had treated his father…he wanted to return home…but he struggled with whether or not his father would welcome him in his home.
Brad finally decided to visit his father … with his wife and child. Much to his surprise, Brad’s father greeted him with tears of joy. He told Brad that he had prayed for this day since the day he left home.
We must live with the recognition that we belong to the Lord…my loving, protecting, calming Shepherd!
How is it the Lord is MY Shepherd?
John 10: 11, 14 -- As the Good Shepherd, two phrases come to mind:
PURE SACRIFICE - the LORD laid down His life for His sheep
CHILD-LIKE TRUST: the sheep know the voice of the Shepherd…and follow Him.
The Bible reminds us — We are all like sheep.
Sheep tend to wander. Isaiah 53:6 – When sheep wander, they are prone to drown, fall off cliffs, and succumb to their dangerous enemies.
We tend to wander as well (Hebrews 2:1)! To be clear, when we wander, we are rebelling against the Lord’s commands…we are wandering away from a relationship with the Shepherd. As a result, we attempt to face our enemies on our own.
Sheep don’t tend to last long when away from the protective care of their shepherd. Does not this give us a fresh view of Proverbs 14:12?
Sheep tend towards fear and confusion. They are even known to follow one another off a cliff…blindly following each other. Sound familiar? Our default setting is often set on fear & confusion follows! Think about it: the unexpected bill…our introduction to COVID…lots of change in society…our adult child’s choices…insecurity at work…etc. We, like sheep, tend toward fear.
Because of these tendencies, a shepherd needed to be prepared to lay down his life for the sheep. The shepherd would have to battle wild animals. David demonstrated this very reality in I Samuel 17:34-35.
Do you see how humbling it is for scripture to compare humanity to sheep? Do you see how amazing it is that the LORD is our Shepherd?!!
With all of this, meditate on our Shepherd…
His POSITION: Creator/Protector
My Shepherd is able to protect me. It is He who brought me into being and no one is better able to understand or care for me.
When a child is sick, he usually wants Mommy to take care of him. No one cares for him like Mommy! Who could better care for/protect/understand me than my heavenly Father, the Creator! Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:3.
His Choice: Redeemer
My Shepherd laid down His life for me. He has bought me back at the incredible price of His own life and shed blood. This is genuine, unfiltered love.
In a company, if a man owns 75% of the stock of the company he has more say in the company. It is his right because He has made the most investment financially! Our Lord has not only earned such a position as our shepherd – it is His right to be our shepherd as He so chooses! We belong to Him.
His Interest: Sustainer
He literally lays Himself out for us continually.
Interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27, 34)
Guiding us by His Spirit (Isaiah 58:11; John 16:13)
Working on our behalf to ensure that we will benefit from His care
Ps. 23:2-6---the entire poem goes on to recount the manner in which our Good Shepherd spares no pains for the welfare of His sheep…
v. 2-He is my contentment and rest
v. 3-He is my pathfinder
v. 4-He is my protection and guide
v. 5-He is my provision
v.6-He is all this all my days and forever more!
Recognize the position we have in Christ as believers! Our shepherd is THE Good Shepherd! Consider the scene of a shepherd who should never have been allowed to tend to sheep. His flock is always thin, weak, and riddled with disease. Then consider another shepherd who cared for his flock in the next pasture. This shepherd guarded his flock from disease and fed them well. Their pasture was green and lush! Imagine how the first flock described, if they could talk, would come over to the fence and say, “Oh, to be free from this awful owner!” This is the picture of people throughout the world who have not known what it is to belong to the Good Shepherd…and then they suffer instead under sin and Satan.
Sometimes those whose shepherd is the Lord, take such grand care for granted!
5 Key Questions about Your Shepherd:
Do you belong to Him?
Do you really recognize His right to you?
Do you respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership?
Do you find complete rest and freedom in a relationship with the Good Shepherd?
Do you sense purpose and deep contentment because you are under His direction?
If so, then you too can proclaim along with David, “The Lord is My Shepherd!” If your answer is no, then I urge you to reevaluate your relationship with the Good Shepherd! My own way, or the way of reason, does not lead to the root of joy or peace. Only Jesus is pure joy and true peace. Are you struggling with relationships? Are you struggling with anger or discontentment? Are you struggling with unresolved conflicts? Are you struggling with enjoying the life you are living?
The struggle is not automatically removed, but the solution is always found in Jesus! So, run to Christ.