Lesson for the Lord’s Day

And David My servant shall be king over them, and they all shall have one Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe my statutes, and do them. Ezekiel 37:24

Our drive through the country led us to a region with wide, wind-swept fields with no fences and many rolling hills. As we crossed a small bridge and rounded a turn, we were brought to a halt by an old man with a long staff, who stood in the middle of the road and lifted his arm to stop us. With his long flowing beard and bright, tattered clothes, he was an interesting sight, to say the least. At the edge of the road, waiting his command, stood a solid mass of sheep, their eyes on their shepherd and not on us. Seeing we had stopped, he waved his arm and the sheep followed him across the highway. As he marched away across the field, the sheep flowed around him and past us as though they were a liquid. It was large flock, several hundred sheep at least, and took some time to cross the highway. Even at the end, there were no stragglers, those sheep at the rear remained part of the closely-packed flock. And then they were across, still flowing across the field, with the colourful shepherd in their midst, making their way to whatever pasture he was leading them, just like the flock described in today’s text.

The shepherd was the focal point for everything the sheep did; they had no interest in being anywhere exept his presence. They were secure in their knowledge that he would protect them and lead them to the best pasture available. As Christians, we should be just like those sheep and acknowledge not just the shepherd, but the one Shepherd. Our Lord is certainly the best Shepherd, all powerful and all loving, and to deeply interested in us that He promises to never leave nor forsake us. Under His guidance, we share all that is the best of provision, enjoy the best of company, and rest in the best protection. Our devotion to the Shepherd will draw us all closer to each other, just as sheep devoted to the shepherd will be closer to each other as they stay as close to the shepherd as possible.

There are plenty of false shepherds around us, including many who claim to also be following the same Lord that we do. But they desire to draw flocks to themselves, not to Christ. And they can never offer the blessings that our Shepherd can. They can only divide, not unite, the people of God. We must never follow any other shepherd if we are to be faithful to our Lord.

We have one Shepherd. He is all we need. How wonderful to be part of His flock!  -Jim MacIntosh