Wednesday, April 24, 2013
John 10:28-29 "I give [My sheep] eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand."
THE GOOD SHEPHERD KEEPS HIS SHEEP SAFE
Another characteristic of sheep is that they are defenseless. They have no claws or fangs they can use to fend off hungry predators when they attack. They aren't fast enough to run away. If a wolf attacks a sheep he will have an easy meal unless there's a shepherd on duty watching over and protecting them.
So too we are powerless to do anything on our own to ward off the enemies of our faith which lurk nearby. The devil who roams like a roaring lion would maul and devour us in an instant. The world with its evil influences that tug incessantly at our hearts would find us "easy pickings." Our sinful flesh would cause us to stumble over the rocky precipice of unbelief to our everlasting ruin. Praise God, though, this can't happen! We have a Shepherd who is keeping a watchful eye over us, who is there at our side 24/7 defending us from danger and protecting us from evil.
What does He use to keep us safe? A truly powerful weapon: His Word. The Word we hear proclaimed at His house each week which tells the news of what He has done for us, how He laid down His life on the cross to atone for our sins. The Scriptures we search in private devotions through the week that remind us of His resurrection victory. The Word that parents share with their children as they grow up, which is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. This is the "shepherd's crook" which the loving Shepherd of our souls uses to fend off our spiritual foes and keep us safe in His hand.
We may therefore confidently sing:
O little flock, fear not the Foe Who madly seeks your overthrow;
Dread not his rage and power. What though your courage sometimes faints,
His seeming triumph o'er God's saints Lasts but a little hour.
As true as God's own Word is true. Not earth nor hell with all their crew
Against us shall prevail. A jest and byword are they grown;
God is with us, we are His own; Our victory cannot fail.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 263:1, 3)
