Does anyone feel like they’ve “got it all together?” Does anyone feel like they are solid in their emotions and feelings? Does anyone feel like they are the first one to raise their hand when asked if they are a leader? These are not rhetorical questions that I am asking. I am dead serious. If you answer YES to all of these with no hesitation, you may have another issue altogether, and it is not a lack of confidence!

Most of us would actually answer NO, to all three or at least two of these questions at one time or another, if not on a daily basis. 

Why? Because we tend to be more fearful than brave. We struggle to be bold rather than timid. We can panic far quicker than we can maintain a level head. And we force ourselves to stand alone instead of following the crowd.

As much as we may fantasize about being a “super hero,” truth is, we fall more into the category of SHEEP than anything else. We are prone to follow the mob psychology of the day and find ourselves too easily in a stampede headed for the cliff. We have little or no means of self-defense, we can only run or flee, and we become vulnerable to our enemy.

No one knows this more than our Creator, God. That is why He sent us a GOOD SHEPHERD.

“I AM The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays His life down for His sheep.” John 10:11

“I AM The Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”  John 10:14

God did not just send us a shepherd to corral us and keep us in line. NO, our Great God sent us a GOOD SHEPHERD who knows us. He understands our propensity to follow the crowd, to wander and get off course. Still, He is there for us and guides us back to the safe path. He knows our hearts and is sympathetic when we are afraid and panic. He is there to comfort and calm our scared and fearful souls.

More than anything, we have a GOOD SHEPHERD who laid His life down so that we can live! He did not lay it down out of pressure or persuasion. He laid it down out of His deep LOVE for us, HIS SHEEP!

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”      

John 10:18

In this phenomenal I AM statement of Jesus we not only have the assurance of our protection and comfort knowing Jesus is our Shepherd. Greater still is the truth that Jesus is establishing Himself here as our once and for all GOOD SHEPHERD. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. The 23rd Psalm is the beautiful Old Testament shepherd metaphor, reserved for God Himself.  Jesus is pronouncing that He is unequivocally the salvation that God promised. HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD, His VICTORY is won on the cross when He willingly gives His life for His sheep!

TRUTH BOMB

SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD GO ASTRAY, OUR GOOD SHEPHERD KEEPS US ON THE RIGHT PATH.

No matter how you are walking today, wobbly, straight, courageous, timid, panicked or sure-footed, you have a GOOD SHEPHERD who will gently guide you along the way!

Speak Truth Love