Friends, the work of Jesus on the cross has flung open the doors to this exquisite feast for you, an eternal celebration of gospel promises won for you by the Lamb of God who became flesh to guide, protect and provide for us. Jesus is our perfect Redeemer, Justifier, Reconciler, Propitiator and Sanctifier. Now instead of shame we have a double portion of blessings. Instead of humiliation, everlasting joy is ours when we will wear the unfading crown of glory (Isaiah 61:7; 1 Peter 5:4).
“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 NCV
As we look to Jesus and walk out of our bondage to fear, we need to be alert to the lies of the enemy playing on the old fleshly record in our minds. This is a mindset which identifies with our former life of slavery rather than in one’s freedom in Christ as an adopted child of God, with the new name of “My Loved One” (Romans 9:25).
This same record would have played in the hearts and minds of the Israelites as they wandered about the desert, leaning back to what was familiar in Egypt but not recalling the truth of the misery that bowed their backs under a heavy yoke of slavery.
These lies distract us from hearing and listening to the voice of our Savior and following Him closely, and delighting in the assurance of His eternal presence in our lives. Can you identify some repeating thoughts that loom large in times of fear, and that clamp chains of enslaved thinking to your wrists and ankles? Throw them far away with the truth of God’s word!
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV
Perhaps you may think that you will never be able to climb out of clutches of fear and anxiety? Recall with joy that Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin has pleased God and it has been accepted with the surety of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Our fleshly hearts of stone have been put to death on the cross and God has given us a new way of thinking, with a new heart filled with His love and forgiveness, and lived out in a new God-honoring life. While we will still war in our flesh until we reach heaven, we will always be made to triumph by the loving work of our Good Shepherd walking ahead of us with His rod and staff.
“I will put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NCV
Question 1: What aspects of “our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,” (Hebrews 13:20) mean the most to you in your life right now?
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Question 2: Could you please reflect on the hymn below and ask God to lead you to see the cross and type some gospel centred writing of your own? It will encourage your heart! The King of Love my Shepherd is” by H. W. Baker (1868) “The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever. Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth; and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth. Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me; and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.” https://hymnary.org/text/the_king_of_love_my_shepherd_is
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Our Good Shepherd at Calvary protects, provides and guides us away from fear