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The Good Shepherd

by Jerry Ousley  
3/09/2012 / Christian Living

I don't know much about attending to sheep. I've seen the pictures, watched movies and witnessed a sheep dog doing its thing as it runs around the flock herding them to where the master wants them to go. From the information I've received sheep will grow accustomed to their master and will follow him where he leads.

Jesus told about the one sheep that strayed. The shepherd in His story had one hundred sheep. One day a single sheep wandered off on its own. In the story the shepherd was so dedicated to his flock that he left the ninety-nine and went out looking for the single sheep. That tells me that the shepherd not only took care of the sheep out of duty but also from dedication and love.

We are like sheep in many ways. We grow accustomed to leadership and if we know that leader cares for us we'll follow him or her nearly anywhere. We'll break our backs to help out and do what's required of us. I've done that. Following is easy when you are being treated fairly. But when the leader begins to do things that just isn't right then we begin to waiver and doubt his leadership.

I had a boss one time who I felt had my best interest in mind. Out of dedication to him and the company I sacrificially came in early, often stayed late and busted my can trying to get work done when he wanted it. It seemed to me that I was giving much more than a hundred and ten percent. But there came a day when he began riding me and I couldn't figure out why. He told me once that I was the laziest and most worthless employee he had, even though I was pushing the work out the door way ahead of schedule. For several months he rode me like this until I just had enough. I went in to work one morning determined to get to the bottom of the situation. I was there at least an hour before he was. When he came in I knocked on his door and asked if I could have a word with him. We were either going to work this out or I was going to give my two week notice that day. I sat before him and laid my heart out to him. Now you've got to know that this guy had a reputation of not apologizing to anyone for anything. But in that moment of honesty he did just that He apologized to me! Wonder of wonders! After that we got along great. I continued doing what I had always done and he dropped his attitude and until I finally left the company we were more than boss and employee we became friends. I'm glad it worked out that way because I couldn't go on any longer like that and I couldn't afford to be out looking for another job either. Praise the Lord for small miracles!

One of the most famous passages of scripture found in the Bible is the 23rd Psalm. In its entirety it says, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." To me this is one of the most comforting passages of scripture in the Word. When we come to Christ He will do all these things. He will take us to the ripe, green pastures. He will lead us beside the cool brook to drink. He will restore us and comfort us when we need it all for His name's sake because we are His and He wants the best for us. Because He is with us when we pass even through the valley of the shadow of death we have no reason to fear any evil. His rod and His staff, representing His weapons of defense on our behalf, bring comfort to us because we know He'll use them to protect us. Even when we are faced with enemies, danger, tragedy and loss, He will prepare a table before us. He anoints us with His sweet Holy Spirit and fills our cups until it run over. Goodness and mercy will be our companions for our entire life and we can have the hope of living with God forever. How much better can it get? I'm glad to have the Lord as my Shepherd. How about you?

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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