Thoughts for Another Day

June 20, 2011

Today's verse: Eze. 34:31. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)                                                                                    

One of the most endearing images I have of my Lord is of the good Shepherd.  I can still in any situation see the picture: Jesus with His beard and genial eyes and a sheep on His shoulders.   Look at the eyes of the sheep and you'll notice absolute contentment and joy for being raised above and feted as it were, before others, as 'My possession, My loved one.'  This picture has been a part of my mind and it makes total sense to hear Jesus saying, 'I AM the good Shepherd and I lay down My life for My sheep!'  And He did lay down His life for us the sheep of His flock.

One may not be too happy being compared to sheep and Jesus as the good Shepherd, for sure there're other more endearing pictures than that of sheep and shepherd.  But ask a shepherd out there in the fields and mountains what it means to be a shepherd and you'll understand why this imagery is used by the Lord.  For the sheep, the shepherd is all they need.  He leads them by the verdant greens to feed on the luscious lilies of the grass and then he leads them by the silent brook to drink of life in the gently flowing stream.  Yeah, for the sheep the shepherd is 100% security and life itself.

For us Jesus is that and much more.  He is a friend even as He is a Shepherd and He says, I AM your God and I love you.  This makes us cling more to Him on His broad shoulders.  When I think of it, I can feel the security of those arms which tell me about His ability which is - making the impossible, possible - and no matter what the night give me or the day will give as it unfolds, I am snug in the arms of The One who holds His rod and His staff over me that no evil or harm dare approach me and Who in my weak moments picks me us as the apple of His eye, delighting in me, making me courageous and ready to face any challenge my adversaries throw at me.