January 19th

The Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 KJV)

Jesus chose a beautiful picture to describe His relationship with us. He called Himself the Good Shepherd. Notice He used the word "Good."

A sheep is a needy animal, and one which must have the help of a shepherd to survive. They don't have sharp teeth or claws to protect themselves with, they are not fast runners to escape from predators, they must be sheared to clean them and remove parasites, and they will follow a lead sheep off a cliff. What a beautiful analogy for a Christian in need of a Shepherd Saviour.

A good shepherd cares for his sheep. He leads them, watches over them, protects them, and provides what they need. The sheep may not know where the shepherd is taking them, but they can safely follow because they know the shepherd cares for them.

Jesus demonstrated just how great His love is when He gave His life for us. He did not merely say that He loved us. He proved it at the cross.

Knowing that Jesus is our Good Shepherd gives us tremendous confidence. We do not have to figure out every detail of life by ourselves. We have Someone to follow. He knows the path ahead, and He knows exactly what we need along the way.

Stay close to the Shepherd today. Listen for His voice through His Word and follow where He leads. You may not always know where the path is going, but you can always trust the One who is leading you.