REVELATION 7:16-17 – They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.”
THEME OF THE DAY: OUR FOREVER GOOD SHEPHERD. Our Lord Jesus carries with Him so many heart-warming titles and fulfills so many soul-settling roles in the lives of His children. It would be easy to fill up a nugget with them. Here are a few for our encouragement – High Priest, Advocate, Elder Brother, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, and Savior, but the one that stands out and is relied upon the most in times of sorrow, trial and loss is Good Shepherd.
Who has not found great comfort in hearing these words from the Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15)? And what about those times of being afraid and needing the reassurance of the Good Shepherd’s nearness and care? Where do we go? Here – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23).
When it comes to Jesus as our Good Shepherd, and we, the sheep of His pasture, let’s not lose sight of what is being taught in today’s scripture. The scene is heaven and who Jesus is in this life, He remains throughout eternity – our Good Shepherd. His care, protection, and leadership in this life now is His care, protection, and leadership in the next life – For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water.
As we ponder Jesus, our Good Shepherd, compare Him in Psalm 23 in this life with Jesus, the Good Shepherd in the Revelation in the next life. Notice the difference? In eternity, our Good Shepherd carries no rod. Why? No need. The time of correction is over. The rod serves no purpose. We are glorified and the work of chastisement is over. Praise the Lord! The time of pain, even though good, is past. All we will know then is pure delight in the care of our forever Good Shepherd.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for giving to me Your Son as my eternal Savior and Shepherd.”
QUOTE: “Once a sheep in the Lord’s pasture also means He is our forever Good Shepherd.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim