The Perfect Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." John 10:11

I have always loved the verses in the Bible that referred to the Lord as the shepherd. I enjoy the picture of Him gathering and caring for his people, his herd, his sheep.

"Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3

Before Jesus, there was not a leader that completely, unselfishly cared for the people. They did try, but being of human nature, their sin nature, they would at some point put themselves in front those they were called to protect.

"I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord." Ezekiel 34:15

The only one who can truly tend to the sheep is the only one who can lay down his life--only to take it up again. If a shepherd wholeheartedly cared for his flock, he would be willing to die to protect it--but then his flock would be completely vulnerable, left with no protection at all. That is unless he beats death and returns to shepherding his herd. Jesus.

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

God's perfect shepherd was and is His son.

We are valuable and vulnerable.

We are not a number. He knows us.

All sheep are valuable and vulnerable.

This includes the unborn and the fatherless.

How will they ever know the love of an earthly and, more importantly, heavenly Shepherd if they are snuffed out or left to navigate this world on their own.

They are valuable and extremely vulnerable.

They are not a number. He knows them.

Will you consider "shepherding" a lost sheep?

I am longing to hold my baby sheep.