The Good Shepherd

Jesus Christ is THE Good Shepherd. Everything he does for us is with our best interests at heart. King David in writing about the Lord who rescues us wrote from the point of view of a well cared for sheep in Psalm 23, and showed the contrite humble attitude we must and will develop as his sheep in Psalm 51. Our Lord Jesus is always full of care, like the shepherd in Psalm 23 and we are/were all sinners like King David and so Psalm 51 describes our path to Christ also!

In John 10:27-29 Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life and they shall NEVER perish and no-one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no-one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.

As His sheep we listen to Jesus, and follow him. He has given us eternal life as John 3:16 tells us, and no-one and nothing can take it away from us!

Unfortunately some people don't get the full picture! They want to believe that because a Christian HAS eternal life that he/she can do whatever they like and will get away with it because they are saved. They think like this because they ignore what God says in his word about training and discipline. God won't ignore it though!

Heb 12:5-8 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

In a very interesting book, written by someone who had been a shepherd, which I read a few years ago, the author expanded on Psalm 23, verse by verse, showing the love and care of a good shepherd of Christ's time for his sheep, how they benefited from the things mentioned in the psalm, and what it meant in a spiritual context for us. This was a time when sheep followed a shepherd from pasture to pasture. They were not driven from behind as in modern western practice. They would know their master's voice and obey and follow him.

One of the many thing that stayed in my mind after reading this book was his description of what the good shepherd might do to ensure he did not lose even the most wayward sheep which was always straying. If for the 70^th time the shepherd had to climb down a cliff to rescue this particular sheep and it was obvious it was not learning from it's experiences, he would take drastic action.

What he might do after the latest rescue was to hobble the animal so that it could not get away very fast and of course being slowed down it could not get to the best pasture or sweetest water ahead of the other sheep either.

Back at the camp he would settle the sheep down near his camp fire so that he could look after it. He would cut grass from the choicest bit of pasture and bring it for the sheep. When it looked longingly at the stream wanting a drink but seeing other sheep in the way, he would either bring some water for it, or carry it to the stream and put it down by a pool of still clear water.

He would talk to it all the time, so that it would get to know his voice thoroughly and he would teach it his commands so that it would recognise what he required of it when he spoke.

Gradually the sheep would learn to love and trust the shepherd to look after it and it would become attentive to it's master's voice and listen to him. And when he called it would come! It would have learned that he had it's best interests at heart. It would know that he would lead it to the best pastures. It would know that the stream of fresh mountain water he brought it to was the best around. It would follow him and never stray again!

2Co 5:14 For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died; and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture (God's word) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be proficient, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Through the Holy Spirit in us, God's love is made known to us and God's love constrains us, like that hobble to the sheep, so that we listen to the Master's voice and grow in grace.

To go the way of the world and do what you like, is to be overcome by the world. No-one born of God does that! Quite the contrary.

1Joh 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Interesting isn't it? The one who gains eternal life is the one who believes in Jesus Christ. And the one who overcomes the world is the one who believes in Jesus Christ. How do you overcome? Through faith in Jesus Christ! And, he/she who overcomes unto the end will be saved!

And if we go astray?

Some will have to endure more than others as we learn Christ's lessons, but God will not let us face any trial too hard for us to bear, and we will be disciplined if we persistently stray. But, it's for discipline that we endure and having endured to the end, we will be saved!

Jud 1:24-25 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.
Amen.

Attlee.

For more on Salvation Click Here.
For more on the strength of Sin Click Here.
For more on which law for Christians Click Here.