“The Lord is my Shepherd…” (Psalm 23:1)
Christ finds us in rebellion, but makes us willing; He marks our path and is with us each step of the way. He loves His sheep; not one will be lost; all will be carried home.
It is a Scriptural truth that those who truly belong to Christ will be matured and molded into His likeness. It is for His glory that in all things,- our affections, character, heart and mind- we are constantly being conformed into the image of Christ. That maturing and refining is only accomplished through pain, pressure, and struggle. No good thing is produced by days of ease and comfort; yet, He gives those brief seasons so that we are afforded time and opportunity to reflect, learn, give thanks and bask fully in His smile. The clouds and storms will return, but all things serve Him for our good and His glory.
His workings in us never cease in life here on this earth, our alien home. We yearn for something else, for we were made for something else. The Lord of all will not allow us to love the world, — or self, if we are His. He will always bring us sheep to Himself, the Great Shepherd; sometimes by fright or hunger if we stray. He leads us always down the path which He has marked out. And the Bright City ahead, though not clearly seen at times, draws us because it is there our true home waits our arrival and the presence and smile of our Shepherd King will eternally shine unclouded.
“Like sheep, we are weak, destitute, defenseless, prone to wander, unable to return, and always surrounded with wolves. But all is made up in the fullness, ability, wisdom, compassion, care, and faithfulness of our great Shepherd…Ah, what a subject is this! I trust it is the joy of your heart.” – John Newton