The law, grace and truth (22)

Praise be to God, for His lovingkindness and mercy that endures forever. Father, we thank you for Your Word that is the every essence of our lives as children of God, we ask for wisdom and understanding as the Word goes forth in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today's lead Word is from Numbers 27:15-17 (NKJV)

15.Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying:

16"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

17."who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."

Amen, thank you LORD.

When the LORD God told Moses, he would not cross over to the promised land, Moses asked Him to appoint a shepherd over His people who would lead the congregation and basically be their guide so that they would not be like sheep without a shepherd.

Today, I believe the LORD desires to personally shepherd His people through His Word.

When we look at the children of Israel as they journeyed from the wilderness all the way to the promised land, they had a main leader and other judges that would oversee the administration of operations and resolving the people's disputes, etc to mention a few of their responsibilities. However, at the end of the day, the LORD God Himself was His people's Shepherd. For instance, in 1 Samuel 8, we see the rulers and judges of the people coming to the prophet Samuel telling him to ask the LORD to give them a king who would reign over them just like the other nations that surrounded them. In 1 Samuel 8:7 NKJV, And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them." This text shows us that prior to this, the LORD God reigned and was His people's personal Shepherd until they requested otherwise. This is confirmed in Deuteronomy 1:31 AMP, "and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried and protected you, just as a man carries his son, all along the way which you traveled until you arrived at this place."

During Jesus' ministry on earth, He brings God's Kingdom from heaven to earth and mirrors what it means to be a Good Shepherd today. In Mark 6:34 NKJV, "And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things."

When Jesus felt compassion for the people, His first instinct was to feed them not with physical food but with spiritual food which was His Word. This did not mean that Jesus did not have feed hungry people, heal, deliver or set them free but I believe the He was showing us a pattern that often times, the solution one may be searching for concerning a particular problem is found in the Word of God. Food is a necessity but it does not contain the power to resolve the core issues of the sheep. For instance, the children of Israel had their food supplies met by God, their clothes never got torn, their shoes were never worn out (Deuteronomy 29:5) but unfortunately the rebellion in their hearts hindered them from inheriting the promises of God. As a result, food and clothing was never their real problem. Jesus reminds His people to not worry about these things, what to wear, what to eat because our heavenly Father knows all of these needs and is well able to meet them (Matthew 6:31-32). Jesus continues to say in Matthew 6:33 NKJV, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

When you receive the grace of God by faith found in Jesus Christ, He saves you from the power of sin and spiritual death by giving you His life (Romans 8:2). At the cross, an exchange happened where Jesus took your place by bearing all your sins, disease, iniquity, condemnation, guilt, shame in His body so that you would be free from it all. This is what makes Him your Saviour of your life when you receive Him. At the same time, Jesus is also Lord of your life. His position as Lord in your life means He becomes your Shepherd who leads your life and keeps your soul from the enemy. To this effect, 1 Peter 2:24-25 NKJV says, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

On that note, if you would like to receive a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life, please say this prayer with me;

"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 REDEEMED. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!

I'll end with this Word found in Romans 10:14 (NKJV)

"How then shall they call on Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"

Amen, thank you LORD.