Christian

6 Things You Should Know About the Shepherd and the Sheep

It’s important to understand the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep in order to understand your relationship with God.

Three of the greatest men of God in the Bible, Abraham, Moses, and David, were shepherds. There must have been something important that God wanted these men to learn from their role as a shepherd before He used them for a great purpose.

How would being a shepherd teach them about their relationship with God? What kinds of things would a shepherd learn?

  1. First of all, he would learn that sheep don’t make good decisions on their own. He would see how important it was for the sheep to follow the shepherd.

2. He would learn that it was important to look out for each individual sheep as well as looking out for the whole flock.

3. Whenever there was danger, he would have to take action. Therefore he would learn to be fearless and brave. David killed the lion and the bear in defense of his sheep before he slayed the giant.

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear;” 1 Samuel 17:36

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; ” Isaiah 41:10 NIV

4. He would have to learn patience. Sheep are not very smart.

5. He would see, first hand, how vitally important it is for sheep to follow the shepherd. He would witness the dangers sheep would get into without the care of the shepherd. Without a shepherd, the sheep blindly follow other sheep. When one walks over a cliff, the others follow right behind him!

6. But most importantly, He would have ample time to spend with God, to pray, and seek God’s help. He would learn to walk with God.

The shepherd provides food and clean water daily, rest, protection from the enemy, and guidance. Without the shepherd’s care the sheep would go astray. It’s no accident that God says He is the Good Shepherd and we are like sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 NIV

This is what King David learned about God through his time as a shepherd. May we learn this as well.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23

We don’t have to be a shepherd to learn these important truths. We have the Word of God.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 2/12/21

“The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalm 145:9 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

A Verse for Meditation, 2/11/21

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 2/10/21

“The central idea of the Northfield Conferences is Christian unity … but it is understood that along with the idea of Christian unity goes the Bible as it stands.”

d.l. Moody

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 2/9/21

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Monday’s Verse, 2/8/21

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 2/7/21

“… So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Is God Preparing You For Service?

No matter how much I tried to make her my friend, she continually bullied me.

Has anyone ever hated you unfairly? It’s a terrible feeling to have to work with a person that has it out for you.

Then one morning, I absent-mindedly clicked on the radio while I got ready for work. It was no accident. Pastor David Jeremiah was teaching about Joseph. That message was manna from Heaven for me. He taught on Joseph for several days and I eagerly listened every morning. This study of Joseph strengthened and encouraged me to keep going during a difficult time.

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and they hated him. They plotted to kill him, but ended up selling him into slavery instead. Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard, bought Joseph.

“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” Genesis 39: 1-23 NIV

God showed me that even though I was in a job where someone mistreated me, He was still with me, giving me favor, teaching me His ways and preparing me for something else.

“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.”

She continued to chase after him, but to no avail. Eventually, she falsely claimed that Joseph raped her. As a result, Joseph was thrown into prison. To Joseph, it must have looked like all was lost! To be a slave in Pharaoh’s prison left little hope for a future.

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”

When Joseph worked as a slave in Potiphar’s house, he learned how to manage and oversee an important household. When Joseph was put in prison, he learned how to manage and oversee a prison. All of this was preparation for how God would use him to lead the great Kingdom of Egypt during a seven year famine.

“God Gives People the Talents and Opportunities They Need for The Tasks He Wants Them to Accomplish.”

David Jeremiah

If you are going through difficult circumstances right now, perhaps God is preparing you for a task He wants you to accomplish. Perhaps He is molding your character into the image of Christ. Seek Him with all your heart. Ask Him to show you what you are supposed to learn.

If you are a child of God, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 2/5/21

“I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
 I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

A Verse for Meditation, 2/4/21

“Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Kiwihug on Unsplash

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