Behold the God who is our Shepherd

Isaiah 40:11 - He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall
gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall
gently lead those that are with young.


Did you know that the shepherd is not the one who provides but he is the one who leads his flock to provisions? He tends to his flock by saving them from any
danger and guiding them by the best paths to green pastures and home.

If the shepherd just leads us to provisions, then how does our provision come?

When the Son of God came as man Jesus, He made available abundant grace for us. He sacrificed Himself so that we could receive forgiveness from our sins and by His death He washed away the anger of God on us, thus saved us from curses, sin and death. He also became an example to us on how to live our lives and receive eternal life. After His death and resurrection He opened the door for us to return home to our Father in Heaven. Even though He went to Heaven before us, He did not leave us helpless. He left us with a Helper - His Spirit, to guide us on our onwards journey. He will come back to walk us through the door into Heaven our eternal home.

With regards to all our needs, they are already provided for us. The problem is that we do not know how to receive it. Therefore even in the prayer which Jesus gave us as an example, has the same thought.

In the prayer the 'Give us today our daily bread' has the Greek word which is translated as 'give' is actually not 'give'. Give in English is in present tense and the word written here can not be translated in English at all, for it is past, present and future tense at the same time. So it means 'gave, give and will give' all at the same time. The same is with the word 'forgive' in the next line 'forgive us our debt'.

If I were to translate this line in its true sense, I would put it as 'help us receive our daily bread'. For what is already given, how can I ask to be given? The problem does not lie with the giver, but the receiver to receive. This means all our needs for our physical body like food, clothes, healing etc., all our needs for our soul (inner man) like grace, peace, joy, forgiveness etc. and all our need for our spirit like fruit of the Holy Spirit, salvation, eternal life etc. are already
given unto us. What all we need to do, is just follow the Shepherd and take His help to receive it.

[Prayer]
Lord God, You came as man to lead us as a Good Shepherd. You died for us and saved us. You did leave us helpless. You came in us to guide us and help us receive the good pasture You have made available for time for us. Lord, help us not to be led by this world and its corruption unto death but to be led by You unto life...

This we ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[Reference Scripture]
Psalms 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside
the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Matthew 21:1
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage,
unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and
straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose
them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need
of them; and straightway he will send them.

Matthew 17:24-27
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute
money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus
prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings
of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of
strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are
the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea,
and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when
thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that
take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Called to the duty!

Exodus 19:5,6 - Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and
keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above
all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a
kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou
shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Most Christians who believe in the Lord and read His Word do not want
to follow what they read.

The two things as people of God we need to do, is be a holy people.
Which means, although we live in this world we should be separated
from the teachings and ways of this world which go contrary to God's
Word.

The other thing which most think is only for a select few is be
ministers or priest unto the Lord, doing His work.

Everybody mostly think that it is this brother's or that sister's work
to spread the Gospel of the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, but I am doing
my part of believing.

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, in the Lord's Kingdom there is
no concept of audience. For some time you may be excused when you are
lambs learning, but soon or later be ready to be part of the Body of
Christ; to lead others and become disciples of Jesus. Knowledge of the
Word of God did not help King Solomon from falling. It is only when we
become disciples, following Jesus Christ, being operational under His
Spirit by keeping His Word that we will know the real truth and be set
free from our old man.

So in whatever small way you can, start testifying the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ unto others and bring them to know the Lord.

[Prayer]
Lord Jesus You came as man to save us and You preached to us to show
the way we can take this good news of salvation unto others. You gave
us your Spirit who works in us and helps us to testify You unto all
the world. Holy Spirit help us surrender to You, help us realize the
importance of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto others. Use us
in whatever way You feel us worthy of the Kingdom of God...

This we ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[Reference Starter]
1 Kings 11:31-43
31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the
LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the
hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for
Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes
of Israel:)
33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth
the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and
Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my
ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes
and my judgments, as did David his father.
34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I
will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's
sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give
it unto thee, even ten tribes.
36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may
have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have
chosen me to put my name there.
37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that
thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command
thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to
keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I
will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David,
and will give Israel unto thee.
39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and
fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until
the death of Solomon.
41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his
wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was
forty years.
43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of
David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

God is good all the time... But for all?

Nahum 1:7,8- The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.



Remember the song we use to sing when young: 'God is good, all the time'?

Well... Today - we throw some light into understanding this and see that - it's 'not for all'...

For those who trust in the Lord, even if they make mistakes, the Lord brings them out of their problems. The problems faced by them due to their misdoings. He has mercy on them that have faith in Him.

Remember - Faith and Mercy, Righteousness and Peace. Pursue one and gain the other.

To demand mercy is impossible; pleading for mercy is not guaranty we will receive it. It is up to the Lord's discretion to have mercy or not, and how much mercy to have. But having faith or not is our choice.

Each one of us is given a measure of faith. Even the smallest measure of faith is sufficient to do great wonders. It is up to us to use this faith and gain mercy or not to use it and linger in our problems.

It is the same with Righteousness and Peace. For man to be righteous is impossible. We are called righteous when we put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ on us and when we are pursuing righteousness in us. The easiest way to righteousness is by pursuing peace with God. When we do everything that pleases God and avoid anything which offends Him, by this we will automatically become righteous in the eyes of God.

All who reject faith, mercy, peace or righteousness of / with God are considered enemies of God. They are the ones who reject light. Of such enemies, God says that very darkness will pursue them and destroy them. For light of God is life and rejecting life means death.


[Prayer]

Father God, You are light and your Word is light unto us. Rejecting your Word and ways is like reject light and life. Lord we want to live in You and with You, to be glorified in You. We love life and reject dead. We are doers of the Word and will do all we can to remain in your Word. Lord, let your grace be on us that we remain in your Word so that your light remains and shines in us...

This we ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[Reference Scriptures]

Psalms 85:10

10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.


Romans 12:3

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

You and I can do greater things than Jesus did!

John 14:12,13-Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on (be committed to) me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified (have glory) in the Son.



When Jesus was man on earth, all the healings, miracles and wonders He did were just the smallest of what He could do. At times healing every one of the thousands that approached Him, bringing back the dead to life, walking on water etc. all these were actually nothing to the authority and power that Jesus held, his power as Christ - the man in whom the Spirit of the Lord dwells.

The authority is only possible if one is committed to Jesus Christ, His mission. Jesus came on earth with a mission, dying on the crucifix was only one of them, commissioning us to testify Him and to do His Father's business (growing the fruit(s) of the Holy Spirit) were some among them. The purpose of this earthly mission is to give His Father the same glory which He had before, in the Son.

The word 'go' in 'because I go unto my Father' uses the historical present tense. This means, His position with the Father has been the same, like in Genesis 1 the Sun was made before the Earth but was not visible because of the dark clouds, in the same way darkness came between the Father and Son. This darkness can only be removed by the light shining in us. The light is the Word and the fuel to this light is the fruit(s) of the Holy Spirit. The Word will remain in us only if we possess the fuel. Jesus wants us to let the light shine bright and brighter by increasing the fuel in us. When we call ourselves Christians, it means we are carrying on the mission of Jesus on earth.

So let us also make Jesus' mission our mission and being committed to it we will posses the authority to do all things in Him.


[Prayer]

Father God, like your Son we too want to see You full of Glory. Lord, help us make ourselves part of your mission and be fully committed to it. Lord, by your Spirit guide us and mold us to be fertile and helps others also to be fertile to the growth of your fruit(s), so that your Word remains and shines bright in us...

This we ask in your Mighty Name, Amen.


[Reference Scripture]

Genesis 1:14-19

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.