This world has become a dark place for many. Daily we hear reports of indescribable suffering and torture that many are enduring. Some for their faith, some for their ethnicity and some for no reason other than the hatred inside their tormentors. Wolves are appearing on many horizons. As followers of Christ, we need not be afraid. We do not follow a hireling who will flee when he sees the sheep in trouble. We follow the GOOD SHEPHERD who will never leave us or abandon us! He will see us through any situation or circumstance we are faced with. Not only that, He will equip us to deal with it in a manner that will glorify Him!
As the wolves move in closer we have the power and authority to pray! When our GOOD SHEPHERD willingly laid down His life for us He made it possible for us to have the audacity to come boldly before the throne with our cries and requests!
John 10:11-18 NKJV11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep,and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Jesus Christ willingly suffered and died to restore mankind to a rightful relationship with the Father. He willingly sacrificed His life for us His sheep! As His sheep we have the assurance that our shepherd will see us through ANY situation, despite how bleak it may appear! David beautifully illustrates just how much we can put our trust and faith in the GOOD SHEPHERD in Psalm 23.
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Despite how bleak things may look we can trust in the goodness and mercy of our Lord. We are not to fear. We are not to flee. Instead we are to allow his rod and staff to comfort us. The rod being a tool used to protect us, a weapon when needed to guard the sheep. The staff a tool used to hold us still when necessary or to gently guide us back on the right path when we stray. Our SHEPHERD is bigger than anything we may face. Even if and when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we do not need to be afraid! We can be assured that He will see us through to the other side. Even in death we are victors in Christ!
As long as we remain close to the Shepherd we need not fear any situation!
Lord, please remind us that there is nothing that can separate us from You. No circumstance, no man, no terror, absolutely nothing can separate us from our GOOD SHEPHERD. Keep our hearts tender before You. Give us a burden of prayer for our brothers and sisters who are currently walking in the valley of the shadow of death. Help us to daily intercede on their behalf. When we are tempted to walk in fear, remind us that we follow and serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,who is our Good Shepherd and just as a shepherd will not abandon his sheep, You will never abandon us! Thank you Lord, in Your Precious name! Amen.
livingmoreabundantly 