Posts Tagged ‘ Shepherd ’
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11, CSB
There is hope and peace in knowing the God and Creator of the universe is also the one keeping His eye on us and has given His life to save us.
“What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?”
Matthew 18:12, CSB
God should be our source of hope, joy, and peace. We can have these knowing He seeks us, He saves us, and He protects us.
I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.
The first week of Advent can be found here.
The second week of Advent can be found here.
The third week of Advent can be found here.
The fourth week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at love. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Let’s get into (a slightly longer devotional for)
Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Micah 5:2-5a, CSB
you are small among the clans of Judah;
one will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from ancient times.
Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return
to the people of Israel.
He will stand and shepherd them
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord his God.
They will live securely,
for then his greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
He will be their peace.
God revealed that The Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem after a period of silence from God. But this Messiah would be the King of Israel and His fame and rule would go around the world, bringing peace and hope. We can see the love of God in this King being a loving shepherd, and there is evidence of this being God Himself based on His being born yet also “from antiquity.”
Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
Psalm 80:1-7, CSB
who leads Joseph like a flock;
you who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine on Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Rally your power and come to save us.
Restore us, God;
make your face shine on us,
so that we may be saved.
Lord God of Armies,
how long will you be angry
with your people’s prayers?
You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure[a]
of tears to drink.
You put us at odds with our neighbors;
our enemies mock us.
Restore us, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
The writer of Psalm 80 shows us that this King is God, the God of angel armies who sits above the cherubim. He will restore His people through forgiveness and salvation as their loving shepherd.
Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:
Hebrews 10:5-10, CSB
You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Then I said, “See—
it is written about me
in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, God.”
After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will.[b] He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
The writer of Hebrews then quotes Psalm 40 to show that this Shepherd King is also a Priest who does God’s will to make a new covenant of salvation from sin. God Himself is our Shepherd King and High Priest who became a human to save us from our sin.
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”
Luke 1:45, CSB
Mary believed that God had chosen her to bring this Priestly Shepherd King into the world.
Now, we are called to believe that God came to us through her, that Jesus came to save us from our sin, and that He loves us enough to have taken our shame upon Himself.
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
John 14:15, CSB
We are now called to love the world in the same way. If we love our God, we will lay down our very lives to proclaim His love to a lost and hurting world, giving them the hope of eternity in the joy and peace of Christ.
Lord, we thank You for the love that saves us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, please guide us in Your love to share the hope of Christ, to live in the peace of Christ, and to discover the joy we have in Christ. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for coming for us. Thank You for promising to come for us again. Thank You, Jesus, our Immanuel.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11, ESV
The most verifiable truth of history is that our faithful God sacrificed His only Son for us.
We can trust in His goodness and verity (truth).
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11, ESV
Our God cares for us and tends us. May we worship Him in following Him as He tends to all people by joining in His work.
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.
Psalm 23:4, ESV
When life gets tough, we know our God is with us from His Word, not condoning our actions but guiding us through then. Like a shepherd keeping His flock from straying.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11, ESV
Because He loves us, Jesus gave up His life to save us from our sins (and then arose again!)
We, too, should make sacrifices to share that news with the world.
Because He loves us.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Psalm 23:1-2, ESV
Our God leads us, comforts us, and provides for us in more ways than we understand. He gives a peace we cannot fathom. He gives rest to our weary souls.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28, ESV
Stress, worry, anxiety, fear, trying to be strong or a leader …
Give it to Jesus, our Good Shepherd and strong Savior. Trust Him to guide you, give you peace and strength, and to get you through.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you
1 Peter 5:6, ESV
Our Great Shepherd will give us a crown of glory (eternal life in glorified bodies) for humbly serving Him.
Do not demand authority or expect earthly rewards in this life. Merely lead others to the Shepherd King, Jesus, as a willing servant.
a simple man of God 