The law, grace and truth (16)

Father God, we thank you for this is the day that You have made and we shall be glad and rejoice in it. Father, we ask for understanding hearts. May the Word become flesh in our lives as we read it and receive a fresh revelation of Your love for us in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Today's Word is based on following Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Psalm 23 (NKJV) reads;

1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

4. 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 comfort me.

5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Under the law, God entrusted Moses with the responsibility and grace to lead His people, the children of Israel. Moses then passed his mantle of leadership to Joshua, and after Joshua, God appointed judges to over see the affairs of His people until the people asked for kings to be their leaders under Samuel's reign (1 Samuel 8:7).

However, it is important to note that in the wilderness, when God's people or "sheep" may have experienced fear or felt far from the love of God because of what they saw with their physical eyes, we see that the LORD God took an extra step to make His presence more manifest as source of comfort to them. For example, the LORD's manifest presence followed the children of Israel as they wondered through the wilderness. He was the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day that led God's people. We also see that when the people were thirsty for water to drink, Christ was the Rock that produced water for the all the thousands of people to drink. It was important that the people knew that He was with them in their darkest hour. This correlates with Psalm 23:4 above where the LORD as our Shepherd promises to be closest to all of His children in their darkest hour. Before the law in the book of Genesis, we see the LORD send Joseph to Egypt as the leader who preserved the lives of God's inheritance, the twelve tribes of Israel. Psalm 105:17 (NKJV) says, "He sent a man before them- Joseph - who was sold as a slave."

In the new testament, after Jesus died and resurrected from the dead, He not only is our Lord and Saviour but also our Shepherd. Now a shepherd in the sense of the word herds sheep. Some of the characteristics of sheep is that they flock together, they have a really good memory and are obedient to the direction of the shepherd. The sheep here is God's church and the Shepherd that He has entrusted His church with is the Son, Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:25 NKJV reminds us of the life we lived before Christ and says, "For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." When we give our lives to Christ, it is because the truth of God's Word has come to our hearts where we recognize our need for a Saviour. We recognize that if not for God's intervention through receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is literally no hope. In today's post, we are reminded of God's heart, that Jesus does not only want to save you but also desires to do life with you.

Under the law, we see God taking care of His people at all costs and today God promises to do the same for you as well if you will let Him. I find that trusting God usually involves knowing that God will take better care of you than yourself. Often times, when you worry, it is because in that moment there is probably external pressure that is tempting you to look to yourself and find all the solutions but today Jesus is reminding you that He got your back as Your Shepherd and He desires to carry the weight of everything that maybe weighing you down.

Jesus in John 10:10-11 NKJV says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd, The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." Whenever, I think of the love of God that is found in giving Jesus to die for the sins of the world, I am humbled by the Father's love that He gave us His best and Beloved when He sent Jesus to die for you and I.

In addition, Hebrews 4:15 tells of Jesus' nature as a compassionate High Priest who experienced everything we may ever experience in this world since He came in a human body despite not committing sin. I pray you find encouragement that in whatever you are currently facing, put your trust in God and let His peace be Your leading. Jesus desires to lead and be your GPS navigation system with every decision concerning your life. In God's eyes you are precious, you are loved and very important to Him. You are not just any random person, in fact Jesus knows and calls you by name not a number or by your past sin or wrongdoing, but by your name (John 10:3). If God can hold everything in the universe together by His mighty power (Hebrews 1:3), surely, He will not fail concerning your life. God is a good and faithful Father. Fortunately, every dark hour has an end so let this understanding fuel your praise and worship towards God as you walk in obedience to the leading of the Good Shepherd of your life, Jesus.

Thankfully, God has also blessed us with spiritual leaders whom He has entrusted as shepherds over His sheep. God's presence is revealed in the leaders that He has appointed to lead His people. To this effect the LORD God in Jeremiah 3:15 AMP says, "Then [in the final time] I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and [true] understanding."

I'll end with this Word found in Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

AMEN, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: God is love and He loves you and His arms are open wide just to receive you. Jesus in Matthew 18:12 says, that He would leave the ninety nine to go find that one lost sheep. There is no need for perfection because Jesus Christ was made to be perfection on your behalf by God, the Father. If you would like to receive this free gift of salvation that is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ, the hope of glory;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD! YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CHILD OF GOD. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!