How are you? How is your week going? How have you been as His sheep?
Sheep aren’t that dumb. They aren’t that blind. They aren’t that helpless. But they are vulnerable, and they do wander away.
Not only that, according to my pastor friend, they are stubborn. They are stubborn in the worst ways. They are stubborn in harmful ways.
I think the Bible has it right when it describes us as sheep. We may not be that dumb and helpless, but we are vulnerable. We do wander away. We are stubborn in foolish and harmful ways.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned- every one- to his own way…” -Isaiah 53:6a
Does this describe your heart this week? Does this describe your heart all the time? I know it does for me. Then, what is our hope?
It cannot be ourselves. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who is our Door and our Good Shepherd. He is the Door who is the only way for salvation. He is the Good Shepherd who lays His life down for His sheep.
The sheep verse I just shared ends like this: “…and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” -Isaiah 53:6b
We have gone astray and have turned to our own way in our sin. But it’s our Good Shepherd who received all our sin and bore the judgment that was for us on the cross. He has turned us back onto His way, because Christ Himself turned His way to Calvary.
That is how we can enter into His pasture. That is how we can be saved. That is how we can have life. That is how we are part of His fold and family.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd. There are two words in the Greek for Good. Agathos means “moral goodness,” while kalos means “beautiful” and “excellent.” Jesus uses kalos when He says that He is the “Good” Shepherd. He is the Beautiful Shepherd. He is the Excellent Shepherd.
Look at the cross. Look at His sacrifice. Look at His love. And when you do, He will be the most beautiful and excellent One in your life.
See you on Sunday for Lord’s Day Worship. Prepare your hearts for the Table. Make sure you park west of Fraser. Pray for one another!
In Christ,
Pastor Tim
Photo Credit: Here