Jesus, The Only Shepherd You Can Trust

Daily Devotional – Sunday, February 7, 2021

…He leads me beside quiet waters

Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

Like most boys in my village, I would accompany my grandfather to the grazing fields. We would walk behind our animals and urge them forward, occasionally inflicting pain on them using a stick.  I believed this was the right way to graze cattle, goats and sheep until I moved to a different setting.

In the drier Northern areas of my country, the main economic activity is nomadic pastoralism. I was surprised to see shepherds leading large herds from the front. Wherever the shepherd led, the animals followed. When he stopped, they stopped, too.

I found the practice strange but interesting. Later, when I read Psalm 23 in context, I appreciated the leading role of the shepherd, especially verse 2, where David says, “…He leads me beside quiet waters”.

Like a nomadic shepherd, Jesus knows where the cool waters and green fields are. It is not your work to search for pasture. When enemies appear, Jesus faces them first, risking His life for you. In John 10:11, Christ, says, “I am the good shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Like sheep, you, too, can live without worry by letting God lead you. He knows what is best for you. Will you trust Jesus with your family, job-hunt, search for a life partner, studies, capital to invest in a business and other issues in your life? Give your worries to Jesus today. Let your All-knowing and Almighty Shepherd handle your troubles. Your work is to trust, follow and obey.

Prayer

Abba, Father. I trust you fully to lead me. I will follow wherever you lead.