By grace and mercy, I am privileged to be counted as one of the sheep in the flock of my Shepherd. I did not come cheap, I was bought at a very high price. He felt so strongly for me that He paid the highest price possible when bidding for my soul – His own life, His own blood. In doing so, He redeemed me from the clutches of our common enemy and set me apart. He then marked me with the insignia of those that belong to His Fold, the seal of the Holy Spirit. Gradually my nature is being renewed on the inside, thanks to the presence and power of that Spirit.
My Shepherd is literally the best leader ever. He knows my name and expects me to follow Him when I hear His voice. He understands me inside out and wants me to be one of His best sheep. He knows I’m vulnerable to the temptation to stray, to sometimes follow another voice, and when I do, He leaves everything and comes to get me. Sometimes, He has to use His stick to bring me back to His paths of righteousness (that can be painful, believe me). He believes in training me and taming me into obedience, for the good of my soul and the glory of His name. I can understand that, He did purchase me with His own blood, why should He allow me to get lost?
He feeds me with the very best pasture for every stage of my life. Because He knows everything, past/present/ future; He will never give me bad food, or anything bad for me, even when I’m longing for it in my limited knowledge. When I am injured or weak and feeble, He bears me in His arms until I am strong enough to walk again. He’s extremely protective of His flock and has frequently defended me from the attacks of wild beasts. Sometimes I’m not even aware of their danger, but He never sleeps and He’s always on the lookout for me. He is so tender, so gracious, so generous and so merciful. Even when I disappoint Him, He does not stay mad with me for long.
I love my Shepherd so much and will forever be grateful to Him, for seeking me out, for buying me. Out of gratitude for His unmerited goodness to me, and by His power, I hope to always respond obediently to all His commandments. He is a faithful shepherd, and the least I can do is to be faithful to Him in return.
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 