Is He Really Your Shepherd?
We all want to declare the Lord as our shepherd. After all, isn't that what we have learned ever since we were children?
The
LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He
restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with
oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house
of the LORD for ever.
-The 23rd Psalm-
Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. . . . I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10:11-14). The question is do we really know him? Or do we only claim to know him?
Again Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39). How much do you really know about the Lord? Jesus says our knowledge of him ought to come from the scriptures. How long has it been since you picked up your Bible and read more than a verse or two? How long has it been since you really studied the scriptures?
If Jesus is our shepherd we know him and are known by him. John wrote, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6).
If we know and abide in him, we will “walk, even as he walked.” That means we will follow his example. Paul describes that example and admonishes us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8).
Yet, we seem to have trouble being obedient in even the smallest things. We tend to hear many other things and people instead of Christ. We would do much better to have the attitude expressed by Simon Peter when the Lord asked his disciples if they would abandon him like everyone else. Peter's reply was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68). God said simply, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5).
James says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:22-25).
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10). “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4).
Is Jesus really your shepherd?
Copyright 2004 by Wesley N. Dawson
