The One To Follow
Ezekiel 34:11-13 (NIV)
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.
Have you ever been caught out while driving and hit a road closure, but there weren’t any diversion signs? I often find life can feel like this. Thankfully, in the same way that 'Google Maps' has information on road closures and diversions, Jesus is always there being our navigator and leader. Jesus will go out of his way to find us and place us back on the right path if we allow him, because he is our Good Shepherd.
Israel might have been scattered but all was not lost. They were left isolated as a result of following selfish shepherds but they were not alone. Like a true shepherd, the Sovereign Lord will come searching for those that are scattered. He promises to rescue them. He will look after those under his care. He will gather them together and unite them again. He will bring them home to a land of good pasture where they can flourish.
God is a leader who will stop at nothing to ensure his people are safe and secure. God is a shepherd who would leave the ninety-nine to search for the one sheep that has wandered astray (Matthew 18:12).
Further on in the chapter, God reveals to the Israelites that his 'servant David' would be the one appointed over them as a shepherd. As David had already died, they would have understood this was referring to the coming Messiah – the One whom we know to be Jesus. Our One True Shepherd.
When we follow Jesus, we find more than a path of life - we find our identity. Verse 31 of Ezekiel 34 says ‘You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God’. When we make the daily choice to follow Jesus, we find our identity and security as his beloved people.
Prayer — Thank you that you are a good shepherd, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you guide me. Thank you, Father, that you seek me out when I wander. Please help me to make the continual decision to follow you as my Shepherd – in the big and the small, day by day.