THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD – I WILL FOLLOW HIM FOREVER!

JEHOVAH ROHI (3)

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST AND FOUND SHEEP

Both Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:1-7 record Jesus’ parable about a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep in the fold to go in search of one that had wandered away. Jesus gave this illustration in response to the Pharisees who were angry that Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). The religious leaders in Jesus’ day had designed a system to exalt the self-righteous and exclude anyone who did not live up to their standards. They added so many rules to God’s law that no one could keep them all. When Jesus came, His style of ministry confused them. He seemed to be from God, yet He rebuked the outwardly righteous and welcomed the sinners. How could this man know God?

The people of Jesus’ day understood the relationship between shepherds and sheep, but the significance of a shepherd going in search of one lost sheep is sometimes lost on us. It seems strange that a shepherd would leave his flock to search for one missing sheep. This is an example to help us understand what Jesus is saying: a father and his five children are asleep in their home. Suddenly fire starts in the house. The father awakens to find his house filled with smoke. Panicked, he races to his children’s bedrooms and begins to wake them. Calling to some and carrying others, he stumbles down the stairs and out the front door. He deposits the sleepy children on the grass a safe distance away and then turns. Gasping for air, he counts his kids: Oyemi, Ebi, Ufuoma, Ifeanyi… where is Blessing? His youngest child, three years old daughter is missing!!! Four children are safe, one is not. What will this father do? He will ignore the danger of fire and will go back into that burning house. Why? To find his precious child trapped in the fire of sin!!! That is Love!!! God is a Father. He counts His kids. He rejoices that some are safe in Christ, prepared for eternity, close to His heart. But some are missing. This is the cry heaven and earth heard, the cry of the Father: “Where is Blessing?” God the Father sent Jesus on a rescue mission “to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). God did not abandon the 99. They are already safe in His kingdom, attended by His angels, and guided by His Holy Spirit. But His heart aches for those not yet in the fold. His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, went to earth and hell to find those lost sheep! Blessed be the Lamb of God!

When stubborn sheep want to go astray, The Good Shepherd allows them. He permits circumstances into their lives designed to make them look up. It is often in the midst of sorrow that we finally surrender our pride. We submit to our Shepherd, who carries us back to the fold. Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, saying, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (Jn 10:16,17). The 99 are still important to Him, but He knows the flock is not complete without the lost sheep. And a good shepherd always goes after the lost sheep.

“All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6a), and yet Jesus chases after those who have wandered from the flock—not because we deserve to be found, but because He loves us. The shepherd in this parable is Jesus, and the sheep are His followers. When a believer is lured by the love of the world and wanders from God, Jesus begins the chase. His pursuit is relentless until the believer is returned home. The first lesson is that God is the Pursuer of men. The second lesson is the value of men who are created by God. The third lesson is to see the Amazing Grace and the reckless Love of God. God the Father and Jesus want every single backslider to be found and rescued.

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt 18:10). Jesus warns the religious men to not despise the children, or those who are humble and have faith like a child. At that time, humble and needy people were regarded as having low social status. God does not discriminate people because He created them all. Each person, rich or poor, reflects the image of God. Jesus says that each believer, and especially the children, have guardian angels for protection who are in direct communication with God. Therefore, no believer is insignificant in His eyes. Angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). “To despise” means to look down on someone and see him as worthless. Lessons: respect every human being because they are all created by God. Refuse to discriminate against people based on their race, wealth, appearance or social status. Be careful with your words. Do not mock or joke about people. Look for ways to help those that are needy or discriminated against. Encourage others and not discourage them. God has not despised us but has welcomed us through Christ. As we mirror His gracious acceptance, our homes, workplaces, and churches become places where every person is treated with the honor their Creator bestows. Understanding the spiritual reality of angels and God’s care inspires us to live with a heavenly perspective.

“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matt 18:11). Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of Man,” a title that shows His role as the Messiah and His identification with humanity. This title is rooted in the Old Testament and signifies a divine figure with authority (Dan 7:13,14). Jesus came into this world. It shows that He had a life before He became The Son of Man, the Savior of sinners. He came to seek and to save those who are spiritually lost, separated from God because of their sins. This is the heart of the Gospel and the main purpose of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Lessons: We must preach the Gospel and rejoice for every sinner who is found and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. We must have confidence that Christ actively seeks the lost sheep and none is too far for Him. Have compassion on sinners!

“If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (Matt 18:12). The number “hundred” signifies completeness and abundance, suggesting a full flock under the shepherd’s care. This flock is God’s people, with God or Christ as their Shepherd. Sheep are known for their tendency to wander, symbolizing men’s tendency to stray from God’s path. It shows the vulnerability and waywardness of sinners and their need for redemption. The shepherd leaves the 99 in the care of others and goes to find the lost sheep. It shows the value of each person. The shepherd’s action reveals God’s relentless Love and effectual Grace in pursuing men to salvation. It shows the personal nature of salvation, God’s care and His willingness to go to great lengths to restore a wayward soul. This points to the Cross, where Jesus died to save His sheep from sin and death. Selah!

The sheep symbolize Christ’ followers. The one sheep that goes astray represents those who wander away from the faith and need to be brought back into the fold. The 99 sheep represent the security and community found within the body of Christ. We are safe when we abide in His care. The sheep contribute nothing to their salvation except their lostness. Sin is not just a mistake. It is spiritual lostness. Without Jesus, you cannot find your way back. Recognize God’s irresistible grace in your salvation. It is God who pursues you, not you pursuing God. As believers, when doing evangelism, we should be proactive in seeking the lost. God will recover all His prodigal sons. No elect shall perish. Grace originates in the Shepherd’s heart, works through His costly pursuit, and culminates in Joyful restoration.

Another reason human beings are compared to sheep in the Bible is that sheep are prone to wander away from the flock. A sheep’s only chance of survival is with the flock under the care of a competent shepherd. Yet some sheep become proud, rebellious, or distracted, and they wander away. They see greener grass in the other direction or fail to notice when the flock moves away. Peter warned the church to be on the alert because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). A lion does not attack the flock. It waits until a solitary lamb wanders far from the shepherd. The 99 sheep represent those who are already saved and safe in the fold. The focus of the parable is on the lost sheep. God does not want anyone to perish. Each person has value. Jesus was seeking those who were rejected by the religious leaders, the tax-collectors, prostitutes and the outcast. This reveals the amazing nature of Grace. Lessons: As members of the body of Christ, we must care for one another and help restore those who have wandered. Like Jesus, we go to where most backsliders are found, to people’s homes, in the marketplaces, student campuses, online communities, and low-class neighborhoods. See each person with compassion and no condemnation. Selah!

GOD PROMISED TO SEEK AND FIND THE BACKSLIDER

“Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts” (Jer2:19). “I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me” (Hos 5:15). “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13).

“The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above” (PV 14:14). The backslider is a believer who knows the Gospel, has surrendered his life to Christ, but after some time decides to go away from the truth, back to the world. A silent backslider is one who continues to attend church services but, in his heart, he has gone away from faith in God’s Word. He becomes a religious hypocrite. The true backslider is the 100th sheep that has gone away from the flock. This sheep suffers many terrible things before Jesus, the Sheperd, finds her. The backslider will be filled with the ways of the world, but far from the Sheperd and the flock, he cannot find peace and joy. This is the prodigal son who eventually comes back home to his father. If “a backslider” dies in his sin, it means that he was never saved. He was only religious. God has promised to pursue, seek and find all His lost sheep and, and thru pains of repentance, He will bring them back to Him. Jesus said to His Father: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (Jn 17:12).

This is the Bitter Harvest of Backsliding:

*Inner Emptiness. Self-chosen paths promise freedom, yet they leave the soul “filled” with rotten fruit, restlessness, anxiety, and guilt.

*Spiritual Barrenness. By distancing himself from the true Vine, the backslider forfeits the life-giving flow that produces lasting fruit.

*Bondage to Sin. What began as a small compromise becomes a controlling habit. Sin is addictive and a wicked master.

*Diminished Discernment. Persistent disobedience dulls the conscience, and hardens the heart, making it harder to recognize truth.

*Loss of opportunity for ministry and rewards in heaven. Loss of Joy of salvation. Loss of Testimony. No influence for Christ among others.

LESSONS FOR US:

*God pursues us. He does not passively wait for us to come back to Him. We don’t deserve to be found. It is all by His amazing Grace.

*God values each individual. He leaves the crowd to find one lost soul.

*God’s economy is different than men’s. Jesus risks the welfare of 99 to find one lost soul. Jesus tells men to sell all and follow Him.

*When Jesus finds the backslider, he does not punish him but carries him on His shoulders back to the fold. Jesus carries our burdens.

*Heaven appreciates repentance on earth. Jesus celebrates the salvation of each sinner. It is a communal celebration.

*Our spiritual internal state is crucial. Search your heart, conscience and motives of why you call yourself a Christian. Drifting often starts with neglected fellowship with God and His flock. This is an unbreakable principle: “Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return” (Gal 6:7,8). God is just and fair, rewarding each person according to their deeds.

*Take sin’s early signals seriously! Confess and repent before the slide gains momentum. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9)

*Just as backsliders face the results of their ways, a good man will be rewarded. Stay close to the shepherd and His flock. Obey God’s Word.

*This is loving yet sobering warning: every heart moves somewhere. Choose paths whose fruit endures for eternal life! Follow the Shepherd! Worship the Lord!

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD – I TRUST HIM!

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps 23:1). Psalm 23 is the most loved poem in the Old Testament. It follows The 22nd Psalm of the Cross, both written by David. He cries: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” (Ps 22:1). He needed to feel God’s absence for him to appreciate God as his Shepherd. Many people have found faith, contentment, peace and comfort by reading and memorizing Psalm 23. The deep spirituality and the sweet poetry of this psalm are perfectly balanced. David was an experienced shepherd before becoming king. He knew the powerful relationship the shepherd had with his flock. Sheep are foolish, weak and needy animals. Without a shepherd, they surely die. The Lord is Jehovah, the I AM. It is the personal and covenant name of God. In Hebrew, the word “shepherd” is Rohi, meaning “to feed”. Shepherds are responsible for the feeding, care, guidance and protection of their flocks. This imagery is used in the Bible to describe God’s relationship with His people. “I shall not want!”- these words express a complete trust in God’s character, provision, and protection, a deep contentment and assurance that God will supply all our needs, spiritual and physical. In the New Testament, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11), giving us the spiritual fulfilment we need by providing for the deepest needs of our body and soul. Apostle Paul said the same thing. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). God’s love eliminates any lack or deficiency. Your relationship with Jesus is Personal. He owns you. He is close to you, and He actively cares for you. The relationship is constant and not occasional. The verb “IS” (my shepherd) is present tense. By calling the LORD “my shepherd,” David declares personal, moment-by-moment dependence on God’s active care. The word “my” moves trust from doctrine to experience. God knows you by name. His attention on you is not diluted in the crowd. Trust is built on this foundation: “I belong to Jesus and He belongs to me, forever!” The relationship is not religion; it is an eternal fellowship. It stays active as long as you stay close and follow Jesus! By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to enter the heart of this Psalm and experience revival, fresh apape Love and days of heaven on earth. Amen!

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD! I AM THE LORD’S SHEEP. I TRUST ALL HIS PROMISES!

Because The Lord is his Shepherd, David declares that “I shall not want”. It means “I lack nothing”. I am the sheep of Jesus. I totally trust that He provides my daily bread, peace of mind, health in my body, joy and total spiritual satisfaction. I shall not want does not mean Jesus gives me luxuries. But He promises me to give me all that I need, spiritually and physically. Because Jesus, my shepherd guides, provides, and protects me, I rest in the assurance that the nothing truly needful will ever be missing. Simply said: I trust Jesus with all my heart!

Trust is foundational in any healthy relationship, with God or with people. Trust is defined as complete confidence in a person, a firm belief that someone has godly character to help you and not to harm you. That person is strong, honest, loving and dependable. Trust is the belief that a person is responsible and will do what is expected. Trust is implanted in a child’s mind during the first two years of his life. The mother is the first teacher of trust. If the baby receives love and trust, he will grow happy and hopeful trusting others. If the child is rejected or neglected during the first few years of his life, he will develop anxiety, inferiority complex, and mistrust in people. Trust is not built in a day. It grows through repeated consistency. People who trust are happy and they are skillful in making good relationships. Trust increases the quality of their lives. People who mistrust others are unhappy and slow to make friends. Trust once lost is very hard to regain.

I WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY!

“The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but He refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked” (PV 10:3; NLT). What does God provide?

1-Our basic needs, spiritual and physical “My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philip 4:19).

2-Strength in weakness, emotional stability, peace, and courage. “He gives power to the weak” (Is 40:29)

3-Peace of mind. “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7).

4-Spiritual satisfaction. “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10).

5-Guidance and wisdom to make decisions. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jam 1:5)

6-Salvation and Eternal security. The believer is kept by God’s power. Jesus says: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (Jn 10:28). God “denies the craving of the wicked.” Their desires remain unsatisfied because they seek fulfillment in life apart from Him. This is divine justice: blessings for obedience and frustration for rebellion.

LESSONS ON HOW TO TRUST THE SHEPHERD TO PROVIDE:

*Study the Bible. Pray that your faith becomes mature. Trust God’s promise even when resources seem small. God’s words are immovable.

*Seek righteousness through daily obedience and repentance. Practice honesty, humility and faithfulness. Expect God’s timely supply!

*Share generously; God often meets others’ needs through our hands. Love is not stingy! God rewards good deeds done for His glory! “There is one who scatters yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself” (PV 11:24, 25)

*Record answered prayers to remember His faithfulness and silence future doubts.

TRUST GOD LIKE THE BIRDS

Jesus teaches us that the Father cares for all our needs. He said: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt 6:26). Jesus uses the example of birds because it is a common sight. Birds symbolize freedom from anxiety, as they live without the concerns of human life. Anxiety means being unhappy, nervous, troubled and worrying about problems, fears about the future. In ancient societies, farming the land, sowing, reaping, and storing was essential for survival. Birds do not partake in these agricultural activities. They trust God alone for their lives. Jesus contrasts human efforts with divine care. He points at God’s care for all His creation, big or small. The words “heavenly Father” reflects a personal and relational God who is actively involved in the world. “Are you not much more valuable than they?” This question is about the value of human beings in God’s eyes. Humans, created in the image of God, hold a special place in His creation (Genesis 1:27).

In this world there are about 20,000 species of birds, all created by God. The largest bird in the world is the ostrich. It stands up to 2.7m tall and weighs over 150 kg. It cannot fly but he is still a champion. The ostrich runs up to 70 km/h. It lays the largest eggs of any living land animal, weighing about 1.5 kg each. The ostrich lives in Africa and Australia. He eats grass, seeds, and occasionally insects, lizards etc found in the Savanah. The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird. It is native to Cuba, measuring as little as 5 cm and weighing less than a coin. Often mistaken for bees, these tiny marvels have incredibly fast wing beats and feed on nectar collected from flowers.

Birds engage in everyday activity—flying, nesting, searching for seed—but they make no strategic plans for harvest or storage. Despite that, the Father continually supplies what they need; not one day the birds sleep hungry. We are commanded to “look,” to observe creation’s silent sermon and learn about God’s reliable character. Anxiety feeds on imagined futures; trust rests on the proven faithfulness of God in the present. Dependence on God is not laziness. Have you ever watched birds eating, especially in winter? It takes some effort to find the food. They don’t just sit around waiting for someone to put food in their mouth. Jesus stated clearly that God is the one who provides food for the birds. This implies that God provides for every creature. Yet, if a bird sits still, instead of gathering the food God has provided for them, they will starve. Birds have faith in God. They keep looking, obviously confident that food is available somewhere. Although they have nothing stored up for their future, they don’t worry. Neither should we. They gather daily what God provides for them. So should we.

We too must labor for our daily bread. But trusting God transforms work from anxious striving into peaceful obedience. God created Adam to work. It is true that God punished Adam for his rebellion by making him work harder. God said to him “In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Gen 3:17). But work itself is not the result of sin. It was part of God’s perfect will for man. For a believer in Christ, his soul is saved, his body is healed, and his work must find purpose thru faith in Christ. Jesus compares the care of God towards birds and towards His children. He wants us to start with the lower level of birds and rise to the higher level of care for His children. God created the birds, but he is not their Father. God feeds the birds the way a human father takes care of the pets in his house. Will this father’s children worry that he will not feed them? That is impossible. The father is rich, generous and kind. Let the children have peace of mind, trust their father and be grateful to him. We can have savings accounts but not worry about the future. I don’t know if birds are thankful to God, or not. But we should be thankful. We should recognize God as the Source of all the good that we enjoy in life. Work but don’t worry! Have faith that God provides all we need to live. Seek the provision with fasting and prayers until God answers. Give thanks to God for taking care of you. SAY THIS: The Lord is my Shepherd! I shall not want! God cares for the birds, so I know He will take care of me! Thank You, Abba Father!

The birds and the animals don’t have souls. Yet, God provides food for them. So much more, God will provide for us who are created in His image and for His glory. We are called to trust in His care and provision rather than worry about material needs. Recognize your worth in God’s eyes. Trust leads to freedom and joy! Anxiety is the language of Mammon and of doubt! Anxiety about our material needs can be removed by focusing on God’s faithfulness. We must live by faith and not by sight. Trusting in God’s unseen hand is a mark of mature faith. While God provides, we are also called to be good stewards of what we have, find contentment in His provision and give Him thanks!

Finally, there will never come a need in your life that takes God by surprise. You may be surprised by sickness, by financial distress, and people’s actions, but these things are never a surprise to God. He knows the end from the beginning. He is with you through it all. He will never fail to keep all His promises. The God who knows when a sparrow falls and provides food for the birds can be trusted to deal correctly with every challenge and difficulty that we face in life and to provide for all our needs! To God be all the glory!

WHY MUST LOVE BE MORE THAN WORDS?

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth… Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words]” (1Jn 3:18; NKJ, AMP). Apostle John is addressing the believers as “little children”. Possibly, they are the members of the church where he is their pastor. As their father or shepherd, he tells them to live a life of love towards each other. Love should not be just verbal, but in action, not performance but a lifestyle of practical help for one another. Like faith without works is dead (Jam 2:15,16) so claiming to love without doing good deeds is useless. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their religious pride and a total lack of compassion towards the needy. Love must be seen in our deeds, must be sincere and grounded in truth. Our actions should align with God’s truth as revealed in Scripture. Our motives for doing anything must be pure and God-honoring. Love “rejoices in the truth” (1Cor 13:6). This genuine and humble love manifested through helping others is a sign of spiritual maturity. The way we love others profoundly impacts our communities. By loving in action and truth, we become a testimony of God’s love to the world!

Visible Love proves genuine Faith. Action proves that you are not a hypocrite like the Pharisees. The world recognizes Love by what they see, not by religious slogans. Love reflects God’s nature: God did not love only in words, but in action. He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Love is shown at the Cross. Jesus did not faint. Jesus died for our sins. Active compassion keeps our hearts soft and purifies the hearts. Visible Acts of love bless the giver and the receiver. Pray to be sensitive and identify genuine needs in your family, church and community. Partner with others for a greater impact. Unity magnifies Love’s visibility. Love encourages us to do more for God. It silences the accuser of the brethren by showing visible good fruit. It builds the fellowship. Love gives glory to God and is rewarded eternally! Remember, words matter, but deeds give words credibility. When Love moves from tongue to the hands, heaven’s culture shows up on earth, Christ is exalted, and hearts—ours included—are changed for good, forever. Worship the Lord!

JEHOVAH ROHI – THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD (Psalm 23)
The word “Rohi is the Hebrew word for “shepherd.” Jehovah is God’s personal name in Scripture. So, Jehovah Rohi means “the Lord Is My Shepherd.” It is one of God’s many names in the Bible. The word “rohi” comes from a Hebrew root word meaning “to feed”, meaning a shepherd who feeds his flock. The image of God caring for us like a loving shepherd cares for his sheep is one of the most familiar and loved pictures of God in the Bible. Each of God’s names brings a revelation of God’s character. Elohim is the Creator. Jehovah is the God of the covenant. Jehovah Rapha is the Healer. Jehovah Jireh is the Provider. And so on… These names are all powerful, but none touches the believer individually like Jehovah Rohi, The Lord is my Shepherd. As a Shepherd, God cares for me, leads me, feeds me, protects and heals me. In good times and bad times, I know beyond every shadow of doubt, that I am not alone and God is with me to the end of my life. I am His sheep and He is my Shepherd. I am covered by His Love forever. Knowing this is the greatest encouragement that I can have. Selah!
Psalm 23 is the best-known example of Jehovah Rohi, describing God as our Shepherd. King David, the author of this psalm, had himself been a shepherd as a young man, caring for his father’s flocks. He knew from personal experience how vitally important it is to the safety and well-being of the sheep to have a good shepherd who would care for them even if it meant putting himself at risk of losing his life. David killed a lion and a bear that was attacking his flock (1 Sam 17:34-36). Drawing on his personal experience as a shepherd, David wrote this psalm to teach us important truths about God. We must experience God personally if we are to fully know Him as our Shepherd who cares for us and provides all we need. A good shepherd endures cold, heat, sleeplessness, tiredness and danger in caring for his sheep.
If God is our Shepherd, it means that we are His sheep. “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture” (Ps100:3). This is a command, to “know” that the Lord (Jehovah) is God, above all so-called gods. Jehovah is God’s name meaning “I AM”, the personal covenant name of God. Jehovah is the sovereign, eternal and unchanging God. He is our creator. Because “He made us” He has authority and ownership over humanity. God is like a potter, and humans are the clay (Isa 64:8). God is shaping and forming us individually. “We are His people”. We belong to God who created us for Himself, in a personal relationship with God. In the Old Testament, Israel was chosen to be a holy nation (Deut 7:6). In the New Testament, all believers in Christ are called “a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1Pet 2:9). In Christ, we are a community of believers as God’s chosen people. We are “the sheep of His pasture”. The Church is called The Flock, the Body or the Bride of Christ! Selah!
Jesus is Jehovah Rohi. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own… I lay down My life for the sheep” (Jn 10:1-30). Jesus is the fulfillment of all that the Bible says about Jehovah Rohi—our Shepherd: He cares for us. He leads us in paths of peace and righteousness. He seeks and saves His lost sheep. As the Good Sheperd, Jesus fulfils this image by laying down His life for His sheep. No matter how often or how far we wander away, Jesus will always keep searching for us. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He died, that we might live forever. And He is coming again to take us to heaven so that His sheep will be with Him forever. Amen!
Lessons: Because the LORD is God, He has ultimate authority and power in our lives. As believers, our identity comes from our relationship with Christ, thru God’s Word and by the power of God’s Spirit. We are created by God and belong to Him. That gives us purpose and value. As His people, we are called to live in obedience and trust, reflecting God’s character in our daily lives. Like sheep, we must rely on God’s guidance and provision, seeking His will in all circumstances. Being part of God’s flock means we are not alone; we are part of a community that supports and encourages one another in love and faith. It is our duty and privilege to attend a local church, serving God there. Stay with the flock! Study God’s Word and apply it daily! Choose paths that keep sight of the Shepherd. If a choice takes away your emotions and time away from Christ, it leads toward weeds, not pasture, towards danger and not safety. Following Jesus is the only way!
Unfortunately, just as sheep do not always follow their shepherd we, too—God’s sheep—have failed to follow Him. We often wander away. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:6). Knowing that we are the sheep of God’s pasture practically affects our lifestyle and decisions. For example, about finances: Knowing that our Shepherd supplies all that we need, fear of poverty and love for material things goes away. We have enough money to tithe for God’s work and to pay all our bills. We work hard trusting God to bless and multiply our finances. We do not steal or cheat at our working place, because our Shepherd provides, defends and rewards our faithfulness. We guide our family based on God’s Word and not on the ideas of tradition or social media. If a believer is always worried about money, it means he is backsliding away from the Shepherd. Daily pray for wisdom asking God: “Where is the green pasture for my family?” Following Jesus thru His Word applies to all our daily decisions in marriage, parents, Christians and servants of God. We obey God’s command and choose to rest from labor to serve God during the Sabbath. That rest proclaims that we trust in God’s care. The Sheep that ignores rest forgets the Shepherd’s design. In case of problems, we pray. We do not retaliate in the flesh but allow the Shepherd to intervene and proclaim justice for us. Amen!
THE VALUE OF RELATIONSHIPS
God is a Trinity, three Persons in One: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They have an eternal relationship of LOVE and Trust with each other. God made man “in His image and His likeness” (Gen 1:26,27). That means man was created to be a spiritual being and to have an eternal loving and personal relationship with God and with other people. Selah!
A relationship is a continuing and often committed association between two or more people, as in a family, friendship, marriage or partnership in which the participants have some degree of influence on each other’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. People in a relationship spend time together, help each other and are emotionally connected. As with other relationships in life, the spiritual connection between the pastor (the shepherd) and members of the congregation (the sheep and the lambs) must be characterized by trust, warmth, respect, and understanding of each other, for the glory of God and for the good of all.
Relationships are very powerful. Imagine if you removed every connection from your life. Life’s very purpose would seem to disappear. Relationships give life meaning and create a sense of belonging. Without a relationship with someone, most would have little reason to live. It’s no wonder God created Eve for Adam; even with a relationship with God, he needed a human companion. Marriage between a man and his wife is the most intimate relationship man has on earth. Love is not lonely and is not selfish! Love needs another to love.
What was Jesus’ secret as a Lover of men, as a Friend of sinners? “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1Pet 2:21-23). Jesus is the best Lover and Friend, the Master of relationships. The reason why Jesus never failed in His relationships with God and men is because He was free from sin!!!
What is sin? It is breaking of God’s Law and breaking of God’s heart. Separation and Divorce happen because of sin, and the hardness of hearts (Matt 19:8). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). We are born selfish, greedy, lazy, and jealous of others. Sin unites us in a hopeless world. Sinners cannot love. Love is found in Christ alone. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you” (Isa59:1,2). Sin separates us from God and breaks our relationship with one another.
Sin is not just a breaking of God’s law. It breaks God’s heart. This very personal and emotional description helps us see that God does not see sin only as a moral failure; He sees it as a heartbreaking cause of distance in the relationship He longs to have with us. God’s grace is the only solution to be able to love God and one another. Free from the distancing effects of sins like prejudice, self-righteousness, pride, judgmentalism, bitterness, envy, and jealousy, Jesus looked past social and emotional barriers to see the true value and deep spiritual needs of every soul. He consistently broke through cultural, ethnic, and religious divisions that separated Him from others. Study the way Jesus related to different people, rich or poor, the Samaritan woman, Martha, Mary, the sinful woman who anointed His feet, the rich young ruler, Pontius Pilate and all His disciples. He never made mistakes in relating to these difficult and broken people. He loved them and challenged them to learn how to love. Let us pursue relationships intentionally; isolation denies God’s design. Let us invest in vibrant quality friendships and church fellowship upholding God’s “good” verdict over our lives. The more we look to Jesus, the more we can identify and remove the hindrances in our own marriages and relationships. We can build an inspiring friendship with God, and we can become a true friend who changes other people’s lives for better in incredible ways. May God help us! Worship the Lord!