For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. "How think ye?  If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?           And if so be that he finds it, verily I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." Matthew18:11-13

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:14

Jesus is our Great Shepherd and we like sheep have gone astray, each and every one of us. But, like a faithful and skilled shepherd, He has the weapons to defend and protect us no matter how far we stray or for how long.           The heart that He Himself put within us sooner or later hears the call of our shepherd and because we are lost and in peril, we bleat and cry out in terror for Him to rescue us.  Usually He has waited long years for our distress call.  He never fails to answer.  He knows the voice of each of His sheep, just as they know His.           Like a shepherd who has rescued a terrified lamb fallen down a rocky precipice, helplessly tangled in the bramble bush, He frees us, lifts us into His protecting arms and carries us safely to the shelter of His fold. What a beautiful picture Jesus gave us to show the infinite and personal concern The Father and He have for each of us.

Like a shepherd He will lead us along the paths that He has chosen for our lives.  Some of these paths will lead to restful places beside still waters in lush green pastures of peace and rest.           Other paths must need be through valleys and hills and even steep, treacherous mountains that demand all our energies to navigate.  But, ever, each step of the way like a faithful shepherd who loves his sheep, He is with us. When we stumble and fall, He picks us up and carries us, gaining ground for us that we could attain in no other way.             Across mountain peaks and through deep valleys He will lead us.  Along the way many divergent paths appear, but when we listen for the Shepherd's voice to guide us, always we will clearly hear Him say, "Hear is the way, walk in it, those other paths lead to death and destruction.  Though the path may be narrow and strewn with stones, I will never leave you or forsake you, though your path may lead through the valley of the shadow of death itself, fear not, for I am with you."  "Come unto to me," He calls gently, "all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."                       "Follow me, follow me, follow me," he calls, "I will lead you to eternal life."

"I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep."

Created:
11/15/01

Once I was lost, but now am found; by the Grace of God, I will never stray again!

No greater joy than following Jesus My Shepherd; wherever He leads, I will follow

(Pronounced Roh-EE)