Loved by the Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." John 10:11-18  

Have you ever felt abandoned, rejected, totally alone? Did the person you were counting on just give up, disappear or shake their head and walked away? With Jesus as your shepherd you’ll never have to feel abandoned. He promised. He is not just a hired hand who will run away when you face troubles. He’s there to uphold you…fight for you…give your protection and strength against the wolves. He’s already made the ultimate sacrifice for you…and me. He gave His life—obediently—following His Father’s plan. Savior—that is just what He is. The one who came to save. But He is more than that. He is our original Creator (John 1:1), our brother (Romans 8:15), our friend (Psalm 25:14). In the Holy Spirit we have our Comforter, our Helper and Sustainer—as promised by Jesus.

In this passage Jesus repeats that He is the good shepherd. Can we assume that He is telling us that He is good as opposed to a “bad” shepherd? What is a “bad” shepherd? One who doesn’t care for his sheep…who doesn’t provide good pasture, safe water, protection from wild animals, or shelter in a storm. The book of Hebrews 13:20-21 identifies Jesus as the resurrected “great shepherd” and Peter confirms again that Jesus died for our sins—and is the Guardian of our souls. I like that…guardian. That is what a shepherd is and does…guards his flock. So we can be assured that Jesus is guarding us. By His wounds we are healed. He is keeping us safe from evil forces as well as providing physical protection and healing. Think about that shepherd finding a lost lamb with a hurt leg putting some ointment on that sore spot. In that same way Jesus brings us back to Himself when we stray and cares for us.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 NASB

Can you rely on Jesus to be your shepherd to guard your very soul?   

Prayer ~ Lord, I have… continually strayed like sheep, but now I return to You as my Shepherd and Guardian of my soul. 1 Peter 2:25 NASB. I feel loved and protected in Your presence. Thank you for  being the ultimate sacrifice.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 9-12

© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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