--JESUS: A Good Shepherd
----Tends to His Sheep ~~
--------
-LIKE the sheep, the rest of our wounds come just from living in the pasture. The pasture of the sheep, however, is much more appealing. The sheep have to face wounds from thorns and thistles. We have to face aging, loss, and illness. Some of us face betrayal and injustice. Live long enough in this world, and most of us will face deep, deep hurts of some kind or another.

So we, like the sheep, get wounded. And we, like the sheep, have a Shepherd. Remember the words we read? "We are His people and the sheep of of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3). He will do for you what the shepherd does for the sheep. He will tend to you.

If the Gospels teach us anything, they teach us that Jesus is a Good Shepherd. "I am the good shepherd," Jesus announces. "The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

Didn't Jesus spread the oil of prevention on His disciples? He prayed for them. He equipped them before he sent them out. He revealed to them the secrets of the parables. He interrupted their arguments and calmed their fears. Because He was a good Shepherd, He protected them against disappointments.

Not only did Jesus prevent wounds, He healed them. He touched the eyes of the blind man. He touched the disease of the leper. He touched the body of the dead girl. Jesus tends to His sheep. He touched the searching heart of Nicodemus. He touched the open heart of Zacchaeus. He touched the broken heart of Mary Magdalene. He touched the confused heart of Cleopas. And He touched the stubborn heart of Paul and the repentant heart of Peter. Jesus tends to His sheep. And He will tend to you.~~

--From: A Gentle Thunder/ML