Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Ezekiel 34:12, 14 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness ... I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
WE NEED A SHEPHERD
Praise God for the Good Shepherd He has given you in Jesus! Were it not for Him how could you survive in the hostile environment of the wicked world you are living in? Just as sheep are defenseless, having no fangs or claws to defend themselves from predators, so we are helpless to defend ourselves from the attacks the old evil foe makes on our faith from the godless society we live in.
Sheep have a reputation for being not the most intelligent of creatures. You can't train them to shake your hand like you can a dog, nor is it likely that the Barnum and Bailey circus will ever advertise a coming attraction based on the fantastic performances of sheep. They are too, well ... dumb! We are that way by nature with respect to heavenly things. Without a shepherd we would find no pasturage on which to nourish our souls. We'd spend our lives going after treasures having no lasting value instead of the treasures that have perpetual value that Jesus gives us. We would be lost spiritually and stay that way forever.
But how blessed we are to have a shepherd who has an abiding concern for our well-being, who provides for our daily needs (the earthly ones too), who loves us so much that He was willing to forfeit His life for poor, defenseless, foolish sheep like us. Because of His kind provision, protection, and guidance we can say: "I shall not want."
My table Thou hast furnished In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows.
The bounties of Thy love Shall crown my following days,
Nor from Thy house will I remove Nor cease to speak Thy praise.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 426:5-6)
