Heart in Bloom

“Even when we feel lost and without hope, our good shepherd reaches out to us:

The book of Luke records many of the parables told by Jesus, stories He told, to reveal the heart of God.

The first story is about a shepherd who has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Does the shepherd say, ‘Well, I can’t worry about the lost sheep, because I need to stay here and protect the other 99.’ No, the good shepherd leaves the 99 sheep and goes searching for the one that is lost, and he doesn’t give up until he finds it.

When he arrives home with the lost sheep on his shoulders, everyone rejoices. The Bible tells us that even the angels in heaven rejoice when one lost soul is found and returns to the flock.

The next story is about a man who has two sons, and one leaves home. Finally, when the son comes home after years of wandering in a foreign land, the father is overjoyed and prepares a feast of celebration (Luke 15:10-32). This is how Jesus describes God the Father in heaven, who longs for the return of His son, so God anxiously awaits the return of those separated from Him.

He looks for the lost ones, and He calls out to them. He wants them back in His loving arms. In many ways, we are like sheep who have wandered away from the Lord, and not able to find our way back to spiritual safety. We become separated from God through ignorance or just by chance.

Sometimes we get so busy that we quit praying or taking time to read our Bible. Before long, we have drifted away from God.

All that matters is that our Father is searching for us and wants us back with Him.

Luke tells us that our good shepherd comes to find and restore the lost (Luke 19:10). These parables provide us with vivid pictures of God’s search, revealing the heart of our Father in heaven – a loving heart and a wonderful heavenly Father.

If God is to become the center of our life, we must first get to know our Lord, just like we do a close friend or a devoted companion. Many people who claim to believe in God, still have a hard time accepting Him in a very personal way – truly loving Him, trusting Him, and being willing to do whatever He commands.

The Old Testament gives us a wonderful word of God as our shepherd. Psalm 80:1 begins with the words, ‘Please listen, O’Shepherd of Israel, you who leads Israel like a flock.’ Yes, the almighty Creator of the universe and all life is the shepherd of His people. He comes down to touch us and hold us in His arms. He cares about the ENTIRE flock.

In the evening, He brings every sheep into the fold, so they will be protected against the enemy. Without the good shepherd, the sheep would scatter and wander into dangerous situations. This is how our good shepherd treats all of us who ‘hear His voice’ and recognize Him – Just as the sheep recognize their shepherd.

In your life, there are enemies all around ready to cause us physical, mental, and spiritual pain and suffering. The enemy might be some weakness that we have, which causes us physical or mental problems.

God, our shepherd, is always ready to rescue us from these situations and get us back into the fold if we call out to Him.

In Psalm, David makes the relationship with God personal. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Psalm 23:1)

If you feel like you lack something in your life, it’s probably because you aren’t being led by the good shepherd. Then David describes the constant care that our good shepherd gives us through our life, until that day, he says, ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ But the New Testament describes another shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down His life for us, by suffering and dying on the cross, so that our spiritual life won’t be wiped out by the enemy. There are ‘wolves’ out there trying to devour us and take away the salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ’s blood.

But our good shepherd is there to protect us if we call out to Him in times of trouble. Our Savior guides and protects us, so don’t be afraid in times of trouble, whether it’s a financial problem or a health problem that could even threaten our lives.

God our Father in heaven, and Jesus our Savior, promise to be with us in life and in death. Just as the Lord delivered His people out of bondage in Egypt, so He is ready to deliver us out of whatever bondage might be in our lives.

The God of Israel in the Old Testament is the SAME GOD who is with us today, and will be with us forever.

Jesus is reaching out His arms to us today. We can feel His presence, know Him personally through faith, and do our best to follow Him. ‘He will feed His flock like a shepherd,’ writes David, ‘He will carry the lamb in His arms holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.’ (Isaiah 40:11)

‘I am the good shepherd, says Jesus, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,’ (John 10:11)

Yes, we are all like ‘sheep’ in the sight of God, often lost and helpless. When we have strayed from the protection of our good shepherd, we are in danger of being devoured by the wolves,’ the worldly temptation that can destroy us.

Jesus used the illustration of the good shepherd and his sheep so His followers would understand their relationship with Him. He likened the Holy Spirit’s influence to cool, refreshing water. ‘Wherever they go, they will find green pastures,’ says Jesus in verse 9.

If we follow our good shepherd, we will be nourished and refreshed. Jesus says his ‘sheep’ will ‘listen’ to His voice,’ and they won’t follow a stranger. Every time we hear the voice of many ‘thieves and robbers’ in our lives, they are trying to influence us in the wrong way and lead us away from God. If they can, they will steal our peace and happiness, and even our salvation.

But if our ears are tuned to the voice of Jesus, we will stay on the right path and follow our good shepherd who leads us to green pastures and refreshing waters that enrich our heart and mind. ‘The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy,’ says Jesus in verse 10. ‘My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.’ Instead of having our lives destroyed, we can enjoy life to its fullest through Jesus Christ.

The Psalmist David realized his relationship with the Lord, even in the Old Testament scriptures, when he wrote, ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ (Psalm 23:1) And the prophet Isaiah wrote these comforting words foretelling the future coming of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. ‘O’Zion, that brings good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O’Jerusalem that brings good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God! He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom,’ (Isaiah 40:9-11)

The gospel of God’s grace alone can lift up the soul and give us eternal salvation. It’s only when our soul is nourished and refreshed by Jesus, our good shepherd, who leads us to green pastures and cool waters, that we are truly satisfied spiritually. When the Love of God fills our heart and soul, it stirs us inwardly like nothing else could ever do. It gives us hope, purpose, and the glory of life.

Why did Jesus’ disciples follow Him? They heard His voice, experienced His love, and were moved by His message.

Even though Jesus is now in the presence of God the Father, He still hasn’t lost any of the compassion He had while on earth. Today, the same tender, sympathizing heart is open to all who call upon Him. He continues to bless all who ask for His blessing, and we don’t have to bear any burden alone.

Jesus says He will carry our burdens for us. This is the promise of the Lord: ‘For the mountains may depart, and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you.’ (Isaiah 54:10)”

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God, for Jesus Christ sake has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Messages from the Bible by Guadalupe Revilla