King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: The Shepherd Of His Sheep
Date: Friday February 17, 2012
Today's Chapters: Numbers 27-29

Hello My Friend,

A shepherd is a man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding of the sheep. Sheep are perhaps one of the most useful species that God Created, its wool provides material for warm clothing, its flesh provides food. Before Jesus came they were used in the sacrificial offering for atonement of the sinner. Interestingly sheep have a harmless temper, are meek, friendly, and quite submissive, but they are also quick to walk into danger if they wander from within the confinements of the shepherd. The shepherd never stops caring for his sheep, should they wander away he never stops searching for them. This is a perfect illustration of Jesus, who is the shepherd to all who have received them as His Savior, He tends to us, feeds us, and guards us within His walls, yet, if we wander, He never stops looking for us.

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:7-15.

The Jews were days from the promised land, it was time for them to receive their final instructions, God told Moses to go up to mount Abarim, from that mountain Moses could see the promised land, miles and miles of beautiful plain and waters beheld him. It was there that God told Moses that that was as close to the promised land as he could get. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” - Numbers 27:12-17.

Moses did not complain, He did not stop serving God when He told him that he would not be able to step foot on the promised land. This sight of Canaan, as magnificent as it was, gave Moses hope of a better country, that is, the Kingdom of God that was awaiting him. You see, while Moses was stricken from entering the promised land on earth he was not stricken from entering God's Kingdom in heaven. This is a perfect example of God's mercy and forgiveness, no matter what we have done in the past, while we may lose some of the blessings we could have received on earth, we are forgiven and allowed to enter the Kingdom of God solely because of our faith and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope for a better country. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” - Hebrews 11:13-16.

Moses was weary of the Jews going into the promised land with no supervision, God appointed Joshua to be the shepherd that would lead the Jews to and through the promised land, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.” - Numbers 27:18-23.

Joshua had been ordained to be the one who would not only lead the Jews into the promised land, but oversee their care as well. Talk about a huge responsibility? I imagine he was quite excited, overwhelmed, and scared all at the same time. Though he was full of the Spirit, and had all this honor put upon him, Joshua was told that he must not do anything without asking counsel of God, not leaning to his own understanding. God assures him that He would always be there to advise him, after all who knows what we need better than God. God never appoints us to do anything without His counsel, those who fall do so because they did not listen to God's warnings. God often speaks to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, people, and prayer, we must be willing to do exactly what He instructs us to do if we want to succeed in anything. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work...And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” - 2 Timothy 2:19-21,24-26.

Today, God appoints Jesus as the Shepherd to His sheep, much more than a shepherd, He was the sheep, the sacrificial lamb that would save mankind once and for all. His death on the cross settled the war between God and man, but just like Joshua, a person must follow God's instructions if they want to succeed. God's instructions to be saved, believe in and receive my Son. Once you take that step Jesus will lead you through the counsel of God. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20,21.

I was out soul winning last night, a man, very kind became unkind when he realized we were Baptist, he did not want to hear about Jesus, kept telling us that he was Catholic. Being a Baptist or Catholic does not save us, only Jesus does, trusting in ones religion will sent a person straight to hell, only trusting in Christ and Christ alone will save them. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -Romans 10:9-13.

Today's Psalm: 100:3 - “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Today's Proverb: 3:5 - “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Today's Prayer: God, It never ceases to amaze me just how loving and merciful you are to us, no matter what we have done with our lives you never give up on us, whether it is to get us to receive Your Son, or seek counsel from You, You are right there for us. It is so easy to be led astray when we get tempted beyond the walls of Your safety, some of us have fallen, but Your mercy and grace never falls. Show us the way, Lord, give us peace, help us to overcome all temptation and remove any hindrances that keep us confined within our own walls. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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