THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD Psalm 23 is a Psalm that addresses all the needs and lack in our lives, and Jesus is the One Who can meet all that “lack.” Let’s look at Psalm 23 and see how Jesus is the Good Shepherd who fills full all of our “lack.” Psalm 23:1 shows us how our Good Shepherd will feed, guide, and shield us – if we follow Him we shall have no lack. In verse 2 & 3 He leads us to a place of peace, tranquility and rest after being depleted by our own waywardness, He will refresh and restore us and lead us back into the paths of righteousness (not for our earning it but) for His name’s sake –His name is Jehovah- Tsidkenue (our righteousness), what love and grace! In verse four the Good Shepherd is portrayed as the One Who continually walks with us, even through the shadows of death. We don’t have to be afraid of any evil because He is with us, and remember: “Greater is He that is within us than He that is in the world” (I Jn.4:4). He is with us even in the shadows of “death” to a dream; death of a loved one; death to a job that supplies our livelihood; death to a friendship; or our actual death, or anything that brings us into a place of shadows, depression or fear. Remember that our enemy, Satan, has come to steal, kill and destroy us, but Jesus has come to give us life and life more abundantly (Jn.10:10)! He has, and uses His rod of protection for anything Satan would devise to hurt or destroy us. He has His staff to guide us in the way we should go, the path of righteousness. He is The Light of the World, and if we look to that Light and walk in that Light, He will eventually bring us through and out of the “shadow of death,” and into His glorious Light, which will be a place of joy, peace and comfort. Verse 5 & 6 tells us that when we are His child, and one of His “sheep,” the Father prepares a banqueting table for us with wonderful plenty, while the enemy, who has been warring against us, spirit, soul, and body, will stand and watch us feasting on the goodness of God. “You anoint my head with oil.” In the Bible “oil” was used for the act of dedication to God; to mix with sacrificial items; marking God’s anointed; signifying richness, fruitfulness; putting on the face to make it shine to appear healthy. It was a symbol of the Holy Spirit Who comes into our lives when we give ourselves to God. He brings richness and fruitfulness into our lives, and brings a shining, joyful countenance to us. He enables us to be over-comers, and to do all things through His strength and ability. Our cup is running over with His grace, goodness, mercy and love! Surely all of these good things shall follow us all the days of our lives, and in His presence we will live! Everyone needs all of these things that are found in Jesus, so He is all we need. We need: Love – John 3:16. He is love. Love is character and He cannot be anything but loving. Just as Jesus is eternal, His love is eternal, it is unconditional! We cannot do more good things to make Him love us more; nor can we do any worse things to cause Him to love us less. He will always love us! We need a protector - He is our Protector - Ps.3:3! We need someone to lean on and sustain us - He is our Sustainer (the One we can lean on) – Ps.3:5! The whole world is crying for peace – peace in our world, heart and mind. He is our Peace – Isa.26:3! When we are weak and tired He is our Rest – Ps.16:8-9! When Satan with the circumstances of life have oppressed and depressed us -He is our Comforter – II Cor.1:3-4! When we are lost and wandering - He is our Seeker – Eze.34:16a; Luke 19:10! We are desperately in need of help - He is our Helper – Ps.33:20! We want and seek truth -He is The Truth – Jn.14:17! We want and need a true friend who will be there for us. Someone who knows us, yet loves us - He is our intimate Friend - Prov.18:24; Jn.15:14; Ps.139:1-18! When we are bound by addictive habits of the body and of the mind - He is our Deliverer – Ps.18:2! When we don’t know which decision to make or which path to follow - He is our Guide and Counselor – Jn.16:13; Isa.9:6! When we are in the “pigpen” of life and come to Him for cleansing, He will clean us up and give us His clean Robe of Righteous.” - He is our Righteousness – I Jn.1:9: Rom.3:21-24! What more, or who else could we want to satisfy our deepest needs and longings? Only the Lord Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd! He is all we need or want!!