The Lord is my shepherd

April is lambing season and Psalm 23 comes to mind – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want… etc. Many people take comfort from the thought that the Lord is my shepherd who cares for me personally.

But who is the Lord and how does he become my shepherd?

Who?

In John 10 and verse 11 Jesus Christ says I am the good shepherd. So, when we read ‘The Lord’ – we must think of the Lord Jesus Christ – the second person of the Trinity – born in the flesh: fully God and fully human and without sin. Jesus says there are three things he really wants us to know about him if we want to call him my shepherd:

• We must know that Jesus came to give abundant life to his sheep – that means to bring sinners back into a restored living relationship with God in heaven – now and always. That’s abundant life!
• We must know that Jesus came to give his own life for his sheep – for sinners to be brought back to God our sin must first be punished and pardoned. When Jesus died on the cross – he was giving (sacrificing) his life for each of his sheep that they may be forgiven.
• We must know that Jesus came to take up his life again – we celebrate Easter this month and remind ourselves that on the third day after he died Jesus was raised from the dead. Easter day tells us that Jesus has conquered sin and death – that abundant life is freely available through Jesus. We can put our confidence in the Good Shepherd – the living Lord Jesus Christ.

How?

Jesus says in John 10 and verse 9 – I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…

Start by coming to Jesus personally in prayer and ask him to save you. And like all wise sheep – having recognised the Good Shepherd – stay close to him all your days. In practice, that will mean you will join a local church in order to grow in your knowledge of Jesus. 

 To find out more about the Good Shepherd come and visit us at the church or contact Pastor Phil Grubb: tel: 01452 725614:  (m) 07825 886 886:  e-mail – pastorphilgrubb@gmail.com