Awestruck Wonder - Day Three: That Great Shepherd of the Sheep

“Now may the God of peace

who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,

that great Shepherd of the sheep,

through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

make you complete in every good work to do His will,

working in you what is well pleasing in His sight,

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV

Through this passage we have rejoiced in serving a God who loves peace, and raised Jesus from the dead to secure peace for us. Today’s treasure has us gazing at the great Shepherd of the sheep. Blessed are those in His pasture.

I love sheep. There are so many reasons God uses them to help us understand our need for Him. Sheep need a shepherd, and can’t survive on their own. If they aren’t fed, sheered, and cared for, they can’t rest. That’s how desperately we need Jesus!

Satan is brilliant at deception. His pasture is one of death and destruction. But, figuratively speaking, he paints it green and provides temporary pleasures that kill. The grass is definitely greener on the eternal life side, but he blinds eyes to refuse their rescue. Praise God for the true Shepherd who tells us in John 10:9-11,

“I am the door.

If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,

and will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come that they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

Let’s ponder the wonder of our sacrificial Lamb who is also our Shepherd.

“For you were like sheep going astray,

but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

1 Peter 2:25

“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them

and lead them to living fountains of waters.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:16-17