The Good Shepherd...
Dear Friends,
One of my daily confessions is , “ the Lord is My Shepherd”! I confess this with boldness. I am sharing this with you because I have to keep the truth before me. When we are constantly bombarded with bills that are now due and not payable; Children who have needs! Households and vehicles needing maintenance; Our bodies are being attacked with sickness and or diseases; The daily duties on our jobs; Life’s general ups and down dealing with yourselves and others. This serves as my reminder. This is the time that I take a moment to pause, and remind “Chanda” that the Lord is my shepherd!!!! I am not the Good Shepherd, He is, “The Good Shepherd!” The bible often refers to God’s children as His sheep, and to Jesus our Lord and Savior, as the Good Shepherd.
In reading about some of the natural duties of a Shepherd to their assigned flock of sheep, it great place of reassurance of God’s promise to me that Jesus is forever a Good Shepherd to His sheep (that’s you and I).
A (Natural) Shepherd’s Duties:
Flock Welfare is the primary responsibility of a shepherd. It is his responsibility to care for the safety and welfare of the sheep. He herds them to areas of good forage, but also has to keep a watchful eye out for poisonous plants. Moving the to fresh grazing each day, and bringing them back to bed down in the same area each night.
Protection from Predators the shepherd will use guard dogs and also will carry rifles to kill any predator that are attempting to attack the sheep.
Protecting Health Since sheep are susceptible to diseases, the shepherds are often tasked with the responsibility of taking care of basic medical needs and injuries.
Shearing The Flock An experience shepherd is expected to shear up to 125 ewes a day without nicking or cutting the skin, and remove the fleece intact. They may be sheared in the open or holding pen.
In an article wrote by Beth Greenwood, she talks about how Sheepherders must be on call for the their animals around the clock. This resonated in my spirit, because if a natural Shepherd (man) knows how to put this much care into his sheep. How much more care can we fully expected from the Good Shepherd, who is a Good, Good Father? David who was a sheepherder by profession himself, understood the great lengths that he himself had gone to protecting sheep. So, when he wrote Psalm 23, I know if was from one shepherd’s heart to another. It is my heartfelt prayer that each of us will take our full rest in this Psalm 23. Trusting that we serve a Shepherd’s who will continue to go to great depths to protect His flock both spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially.
Psalm 23 (The Passion Translation) 1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.[b] I always have more than enough. 2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.[c] His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.[d] 3 That’s where he restores and revives my life.[e] He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness[f] so that I can bring honor to his name. 4 Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace.[g] The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. 5 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;[h] you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows. 6 So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!
Our Shepherd is “I Am”,
Chanda Rose
