The Bible portrays so many pictures of the Lord Jesus being the caring, compassionate shepherd of His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who will look for a wandering sheep and bring it back to His fold to be kept, valued and safe forever (John 10:28).
With regards to the unrest of society and the continuing struggle for various people groups to be valued and accepted, God does have good news!
Where is our source of value found? Let's imagine the mindset of a sheep, like the one in the parable of Luke 15. He must have thought that he could find a better life elsewhere. He wandered away-curious and maybe doubting the care of the Good Shepherd.
A sheep on its own would have been susceptible to all kinds of danger. Wolves, crevices to fall into, and loneliness could have snared him as he ventured out in life alone.
If we look to people and the things of the world to find value, we will always be disappointed and feel alone. People will fail us; their opinions and judgements always change according to their circumstances. But the Good Shepherd never changes (Hebrews 13:8). His love for us is not based on what we do or don't do, but on who He is. He is always seeking to bring lost sheep home. He can give us the value and acknowledgment that we crave, because He made us. He is the only one who can give us true purpose-we can't find it in ourselves because we were never created to walk alone or depend on people to give us the acceptance we are looking for.
Each sheep in the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd was lost at one time and found individually. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). This includes each one of us, because each of us has failed to keep His commands, and we each have wandered away from His perfect will. (Isaiah 53:6).
Thankfully, all sheep matter, but each sheep matters in God's sight. We were made for a relationship with Him, and until we seek Him out with all of our heart and find the satisfaction that only He can give, we will continue to experience the great disappointments that the world offers.
When we become a sheep of His care, our perspective changes, and we live with brand new hope and standards that are not of this world. We don't focus on things that are seen anymore, but rather on the things that aren't seen and that last forever
(2 Corinthians 4:17–18). The World will never have peace or the people in the world until they acknowledge their Good Shepherd and submit to His care and authority.
Are you the wandering sheep, seeking to find value and contentment apart from a relationship with the Good Shepherd? He gave His life for you so that you could be forgiven and have true peace that the world can never offer. The Devil is working greatly in this world to rob wandering sheep of their lives and is turning them against one another. If you trust the Lord Jesus Christ and take Him as your Savior and Shepherd, He promises to lead you to green pastures and keep you from the darkness of this world. You will love all sheep and seek to live peaceably, because the Prince of Peace will live in you (Psalm 23).
Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world, whoever follows me, will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Do you believe Him? Trust Him for yourself and ask Him to show you who He is. He will not fail you; He is the only one who is trustworthy (Jeremiah 29:13).
Becky Kew shares Good News at Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba, Canada. BeckyKew@ outlook.com
