-October 18, 2023-
Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather His lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.”
(Isaiah 40:11).
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd, our Great Shepherd, and our Chief Shepherd. He came to save us and lay down His life for us; He lives to care for us; and He lead us and guide us through life’s trials and difficulties. He is the most gentle shepherd, so kind, merciful, and loving toward us His sheep.
Here in Isaiah His shepherding is prophesied hundreds of years before He came into this world. In today’s text we note four wonderful things He does for us His sheep: He feeds us, gathers us, carries us, and leads us. We are the sheep of His pasture. He loves each of us equally, knows us all through and through, and takes great care of us daily.
• He feeds us – He feeds His flock like a shepherd. Psalm 23:1-2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (or lack). He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besides the still waters.” He feeds us the tender green grass of the Word of God and brings refreshment to our souls.
• He gathers us – He gathers us with His arm. The Lord is not only gentle, but He is strong. He watches over us to protect us and keep us from straying. Sheep are prone to stay, and we are also. David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). His rod chastens us when we stray, and His staff with its curved shaped brings us back in line.
• He carries us – He carries us in His bosom, close to His heart. In the poem, “Footprints In The Sand,” the man asked the Lord why at the lowest and saddest moments of his life when he needed Him the most, was there just one set of footprints in the sand. The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During those times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints in the sand it was then that I carried you.”
• He leads us – He gently leads those who are with young. He is the gentle shepherd who leads us and guides us; shows the path to take, the decisions to make. The Gaithers wrote a beautiful hymn in 1974 entitled, “Gentle Shepherd,” that summarizes His shepherding so well. “Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You to help us find our way. Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us, for we need Your strength from day to day. There’s no other we can turn to who can help us face another day; Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You need us to help us find our way.”
Yes, He is our Gentle Shepherd who feeds us, gathers us, carries us, and leads us. All we must do is follow, obey, and trust Him day by day. Are you down today? Are you low? Are you troubled and fearful? Our Gentle Shepherd knows and cares. He loves us so much and will show us the way through our trials and be with us all the way.
Have a blessed day in the Shepherd’s care. Stay safe and healthy.
As the hymn writer said, “no foe can harm me, no fear alarm me, never again will I roam.”
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 