|
"Come Meet Your Shepherd" |
||||||||||
|
YOU ARE MY SHEEP THE SHEEP OF ````````` MY PASTURE
Reference to GOD AS great Shepherd, a concept of God having first appeared on Jacob’s lips in Gen;49;24.This term shepherd has been used 62 times in the Old Testament. Ancient shepherds, knew their sheep by name, were acquainted with all their ways-peculiarities, their characteristics marks. They led their sheep, stayed close to his sheep, watching them carefully and protecting them from harm. God our GREAT SHEPHERD, knows each of us intimately. He knows our tiresome stories. He sees the hurt and heart break that others cannot see and that cannot be explained, even our closest friends. He knows when grief, pain and loneliness overwhelm us, when we’re shamed and broken and unable to go on. He understands, courage that falters in the face of odds and can accommodate a faith that flames out under stress . He feels the weight of our disasters. He knows our pain as no one else knows it. Our bleating reaches His ears. even hears our inarticulate cries. His understanding is infinite. Our vileness does not alter His character-His Eternal LOVE--the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. If we will have Him, He will be our Shepherd.
He does not scold us. He gathers us up ,encircles us with His strong arms, and carries us next to His Heart. God tenderly cares for us. He understands sorrow, misfortune, broken homes, shattered ambitions. He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.Ps;147;3 Another good shepherd was on his way-ONE Who would be One with the Father, I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me- just as the Father knows Me and I know Him and I lay down My life for ,My sheep.Jn;10;14-15 JESUS calls to us and listens for the slightest sound of life, the faintest cry. HE is just a call away…….The LORD is close to all those who call on him.Ps;145;18.The word ‘shepherd’carries with it thoughts of tenderness, security and provision.
He sees everything at a single glance—into the dark corners and crannies of our hearts. Do you have some nameless grief? Some vague pain? Some inexplicable ache in your heart? Come to HIM, Who made your heart………HE will give you rest. Mt;11;28. GOD makes the first move. H e takes the initiative by calling us and leading us to a place of rest. It is not because we are seeking God; HE is seeking us.
GOD misses me, I’m always on His mind. He patiently, insistently calls me seeks me. Deep within is a place for God. We were made for God and without His Love we ache in loneliness and emptiness. This Shepherd GOD leads us through dark valleys to sustaining nourishment and refreshing water. He is our true nourishment, our living water. If we do not take Him in, we will starve.
GOD is a real, PERSON---not a concept or theory. H e is overwhelmingly ALIVE----REAL …beyond our dreams, that’s the reality…………………..Are we willing to meet HIM? He. responds to the slightest approach,.. BUT we’re only as close as we want to be…………HE will not intrude
TAKE TIME TO BE ALONE WITH YOUR SHEPHERD AND GOD Begin small, start promptly----keep things simple. If we believe God is actively present in our lives………….we need to set aside TIME……………to give HIM. However bleak and dreary, sad or lonely our day may seem…….HE IS I PRESENT WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU I WILL SAVE MY FLOCK-THEY SHALL NO LONGER BE A PREY
The Lord is my Shepherd
He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures --
|
|||||||||
