Christ My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need. (Psalm 23:1 NLT)

CHRIST, MY SHEPHERD

Psalm 23 begins, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need."

Jesus said in John 10:11 "I am the Good Shepherd."  

In Christ God's word abounds with assurances that all our needs are met for He is and has everything we could ever want.  He told His disciples. "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10)

"In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven."

(Ephesians 1:3)

In Christ I have access to all wisdom and insight through His Holy Spirit dwelling within me!

"In Christ lie hidden all the mighty, untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

In Christ we have a Mighty Savior. He said,

"I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will be able to come in and go out. They will find everything they need." (John 10:9)

My Good Shepherd has led me out of the bad pastures and transferred me into His Kingdom of light where there are abundant good pastures. My Savior knows how to set me free from all the things that held me captive in the old pastures; He provides everything I need for deliverance, healing, success, and blessing!

"God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of His Son, whom He loves. His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven." (Colossians 1:13-14)

In Christ we have a Savior who's voice we can hear and who will never leave or forsake us~One who will not let anything or anyone snatch us out of His Almighty grip. 

"My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 

I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. My Father is the one who gave them to me, and He is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of His hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:27-30)

Here is a profound promise to Christ's sheep:

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can teach Him?”However, we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16)

How can we possibly have the mind of Christ? Through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Our Good Shepherd wants us to listen to His voice every day and walk in the way His Spirit leads us. 

  "Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children." (Romans 8:14)

"You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."(Romans 8:15-16)

As we worship the Lord, pray and study God's word each day, we will get to know our Good Shepherd better. He's a wonderful Friend~one who "sticks closer than a brother."

But what about our material needs? Will The Lord provide for those as well as our spiritual needs?  Our Good Shepherd will provide for every need His sheep has, physical, emotional, material, spiritual...whatever the need. The bible says, "God has made you complete in Christ." (Colossians 2:10) in other words, Jesus satisfies our EVERY need and He knows just what they are.

He will always provide for us. He once said to His disciples,

“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. 

Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 

Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 

But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. 

Then all these things will be provided for you. 

“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 (Matthew 6:25, 32-34)

King David, who wrote Psalm 23, also wrote these comforting words to assure us of God's faithfulness:

"Through my whole life young and old,

I have never witnessed God forsaking those who do right, 

nor have I seen their children begging for crumbs, 

Because they are always giving and sharing;

truly, their children are a joyful blessing." (Psalm 37:25-26 The Voice)

In Christ, we have so much to be thankful for! 

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to bear our sins to redeem our souls that we might have eternal fellowship with You. Thank You for our Good Shepherd who knows and meets our every need. I love You! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Christ, My Shepherd, © 2014 S.D. Harden, Unto The Least Of These, Illustration Source/Internet