The Shepherd
The life of a child of God in relationship with Jesus Christ
How can a child of God, who was once a child of the world, describe what their relationship with Jesus is like?
Perhaps Psalm 23 can help us with this question. This psalm was penned by David describing his relationship with the LORD. This same psalm can help today’s children of God describe their relationship with the LORD, Jesus Christ.
David’s words:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
God’s child speaks:
Once I looked everywhere for my needs to be met. There was a need to be loved and protected, acknowledged as someone of value, comforted when in pain and accepted by others. And I looked to other people, institutions or myself to provide these needs.
But none of these needs were met until I understood these needs could only be met by Jesus. And they were.
David’s words:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
God’s child speaks:
I keep trying. I keep striving. I keep going despite being exhausted. I keep going because sometimes I forget that I don’t have to earn Jesus’ love. I don’t have to work for salvation because He’s given it to me freely. That’s when He takes hold of me and makes me rest.
When I rest, I remember I’m His and don’t have to strive to earn His love. When I rest, I’m able to be still and hear His will for my life.
David’s words:
“He leads me beside still waters.”
God’s child speaks:
The still waters He leads me beside are His Word. As His child the Bible comes alive with the knowledge, wisdom and insight needed to live in today’s world. A verse of Scripture I read months ago can reveal new insights when I read the same verses today. It is through the still waters of God’s Word I’m led to follow Him.
David’s words:
“He restores my soul.”
God’s child speaks:
No vacation has ever refreshed me like the rest He makes me take and nourishment from His Word. I’m restored and ready to follow Him again.
David’s words:
“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
God’s child speaks:
Because I’m no longer a child of the world I’m not the same. My priorities, thoughts, and desires have changed. My heart once full of self-love has been replaced with a heart capable of loving like Jesus. I no longer sit on the throne of my heart—God does.
It’s the work of the Holy Spirit that is working in me to conform me to be more like my Shepherd, Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s transformative work is done from the inside out. If the efforts were my own it would be like putting lipstick on a pig.
Through Spirit’s work I’m equipped to be His child in this world. I find that I want what God wants. What delights me delights Him. What saddens me is what saddens Him.
David’s words:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
God’s child speaks:
Jesus is with me. I’m never alone. Through trials He is there to give me a comfort that strengthens me to persevere and continue. Sometimes He may choose to deliver me from a trial and other times He lets me get right into the pit of the trial—but He never leaves me.
Physical death has no hold over me because Jesus defeated death. I have a life which is eternal with Him.
David’s words:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
God’s child speaks:
I was created to be His child in the dark world I now occupy. I wasn’t promised a life free of sorrows, trials, hardships, hatred or persecution. In fact, Jesus told His children they’d face the same backlash from this world as He did.
I live in a world that hates Jesus and will therefore hate me. It’s not easy. But He gives me the strength to endure these trials.
David’s words:
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
God’s child speaks:
The present and future are reflected in David’s closing words. In the present, I see goodness as the Holy Spirit indwelling me. In the present, I see God’s mercy in Jesus’ death as His redemptive plan for me.
I’m blessed to live in His Kingdom now and know when I draw my last breath I will “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
And that, dear reader, is what a relationship with Jesus is like for a child of God.
Do you want this? Do you have this?
Our Relationship With The Shepherd…
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (NIV)
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:5-6 (NIV)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
Perhaps Psalm 23 can help us with this question. This psalm was penned by David describing his relationship with the LORD. This same psalm can help today’s children of God describe their relationship with the LORD, Jesus Christ.
David’s words:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
God’s child speaks:
Once I looked everywhere for my needs to be met. There was a need to be loved and protected, acknowledged as someone of value, comforted when in pain and accepted by others. And I looked to other people, institutions or myself to provide these needs.
But none of these needs were met until I understood these needs could only be met by Jesus. And they were.
David’s words:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
God’s child speaks:
I keep trying. I keep striving. I keep going despite being exhausted. I keep going because sometimes I forget that I don’t have to earn Jesus’ love. I don’t have to work for salvation because He’s given it to me freely. That’s when He takes hold of me and makes me rest.
When I rest, I remember I’m His and don’t have to strive to earn His love. When I rest, I’m able to be still and hear His will for my life.
David’s words:
“He leads me beside still waters.”
God’s child speaks:
The still waters He leads me beside are His Word. As His child the Bible comes alive with the knowledge, wisdom and insight needed to live in today’s world. A verse of Scripture I read months ago can reveal new insights when I read the same verses today. It is through the still waters of God’s Word I’m led to follow Him.
David’s words:
“He restores my soul.”
God’s child speaks:
No vacation has ever refreshed me like the rest He makes me take and nourishment from His Word. I’m restored and ready to follow Him again.
David’s words:
“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
God’s child speaks:
Because I’m no longer a child of the world I’m not the same. My priorities, thoughts, and desires have changed. My heart once full of self-love has been replaced with a heart capable of loving like Jesus. I no longer sit on the throne of my heart—God does.
It’s the work of the Holy Spirit that is working in me to conform me to be more like my Shepherd, Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s transformative work is done from the inside out. If the efforts were my own it would be like putting lipstick on a pig.
Through Spirit’s work I’m equipped to be His child in this world. I find that I want what God wants. What delights me delights Him. What saddens me is what saddens Him.
David’s words:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
God’s child speaks:
Jesus is with me. I’m never alone. Through trials He is there to give me a comfort that strengthens me to persevere and continue. Sometimes He may choose to deliver me from a trial and other times He lets me get right into the pit of the trial—but He never leaves me.
Physical death has no hold over me because Jesus defeated death. I have a life which is eternal with Him.
David’s words:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
God’s child speaks:
I was created to be His child in the dark world I now occupy. I wasn’t promised a life free of sorrows, trials, hardships, hatred or persecution. In fact, Jesus told His children they’d face the same backlash from this world as He did.
I live in a world that hates Jesus and will therefore hate me. It’s not easy. But He gives me the strength to endure these trials.
David’s words:
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
God’s child speaks:
The present and future are reflected in David’s closing words. In the present, I see goodness as the Holy Spirit indwelling me. In the present, I see God’s mercy in Jesus’ death as His redemptive plan for me.
I’m blessed to live in His Kingdom now and know when I draw my last breath I will “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
And that, dear reader, is what a relationship with Jesus is like for a child of God.
Do you want this? Do you have this?
Our Relationship With The Shepherd…
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (NIV)
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:5-6 (NIV)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)