God of love, hope, grace and peace – Day 15

Even in the Old Testament, the image of the shepherd with his sheep appears many times. Probably because it was something that was so familiar to people of the time, this image could speak so clearly to them. Isaiah confirms the Lord’s care for his people by telling them, “He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.” (Isaiah 40:11)

The thesaurus gives the following as synonyms for the words care and caring: look after, take care, tend, attend to, provide for, protect, watch and guard. We are cared for by God; he cares about us, he makes sure that we are never out of his sight and he accepts responsibility for us.

What an incredible idea, that someone is willing to accept responsibility for me! In this day and age, where we are so compelled to always be in control and to act independently, there is someone actually willing to accept responsibility for me. This thought makes me feel like I can take a deep breath and surrender.

In the best known of all the psalms, the psalmist wrote: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:1-2). This psalm makes it clear that this shepherd not only cares for his flock, but that he showers us with plenty and keeps us safe.

And then, Christ completes this image in the New Testament when he affirms to his disciples that he is the good shepherd and that he knows them … and over and above this, that he would give his life for his sheep!

That’s what the Good Shepherd has done for us!