Our Lord is called the “Good Shepherd” in the Scriptures and we are referred to as His sheep. Life has many twists and turns, and we may get lost. It is in those times that it feels like God has forgotten us. The truth is that the Lord is my shepherd. God is always with us and only a prayer away. As humans we have much in common with sheep and truly need a shepherd.
Most of us in the 21st century know little about sheep and shepherds. Sheep are utterly defenseless and totally dependent upon the shepherd. Sheep are always subject to danger and must be under the watchful eye of the shepherd. Flash flood may sweep them away, robbers may steal them, and wolves may attack the flock.
Jacob Needed a Shepherd
During the blessing of his grandsons, Jacob recounts how God was a shepherd to him. Genesis 48: 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked— the God who has been my shepherd all my life, to this very day, [1]
After a long-life, Jacob knew that the Lord guided and guarded him. Jacob experienced many trials in his life, and it was obvious to him how the Lord intervened just as a good shepherd would.
We Need Jesus as Our Shepherd
Although we like to think we are able to take care of ourselves this is far from the truth spiritually. Psalm 100:3Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.[2] The Lord refers to us as His sheep, which is a great comfort to us because we need someone to care for us.
We can be thankful that Jesus is our good shepherd who protects his sheep and gave His life for us. Why did Jesus have to give His life for us, the sheep? We all have sinned! By our sin, we are lost to the eternal life God has for us. We will not enter the gates of heaven if we have not made Jesus our Savior. Jesus’ blood was shed on the cross as complete payment for our sins, but that is not the end of our story. On the third day our Good Shepherd rose from the dead and lives as our shepherd today.
Luke 24:6He isn’t here (said the angel)! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” [3]
Let the Lord be Your Shepherd
When we place our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we receive the free gift of eternal life because Jesus paid the price for our sins upon the cross. Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. [4]
To hear more about how the Lord is my shepherd, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-jacob
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.