(See 2 Samuel Chapter 9)
How much more did our gracious, and merciful God do for us, when He sent His only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, and restores us to right standing before God. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. Praise God who has redeemed us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and made us partakers of His divine nature, and all that He has prepared for us now, and in the life to come, everlasting. He has given His church the ministry of reconciliation. O, how He loves the world, and is willing that none shall perish.
Jesus, upon seeing the multitudes weary, and scattered abroad, like sheep without a shepherd, was moved with compassion, and said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (See Matthew 9:36-38)
The heart of our Great Shepherd is loving and forgiving, full of mercy and compassion, full of kindness and truth. A heart that judges righteously; a heart that wants His lost sheep to come home; a heart that wants both the young and grown sheep tended to, and fed with His teachings. A heart that desires the reaping of His harvest to be done, and His house to be filled. (See Characteristics of a Good Shepherd)
John 10:11-18
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
Related Bible Readings: Psalm 23; Psalm 78:70-72; Psalm 95; Isaiah 40:10-11; Isaiah Chapter 61; Ezekiel 34; Micah 5:4-5; John 3:16 & 17; John 4:34-38; John 10:1-18; John 10:25-27; John 21:15-17; Matthew 10; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 14:16-24; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:17; The First and Second Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Timothy; Hebrews 13:20 & 21; 1 Peter Chapter 5
- A Walk In The Garden Devotions
