Return of the Flock” by Anton Mauve (19th Century) From the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Why do we feel alone? Does anybody care? Does anybody understand what we are going through? Where is God in all of this?
In this life, we often feel that people do not know the “real me.” They know us superficially, but they do not our real person. We go days on end, feeling as though we are an unknown cog in the wheel of life. What does God say about this?
“He calleth HIS OWN SHEEP BY NAME, and leadeth them out.” (John 10:3) What a comforting thought! Our Good Shepherd knows us! In God’s eyes, we are not a number, but we are the objects of His love! He knows what we are thinking. He knows our sorrows and joys. He knows our defeats and victories. He knows our loneliness and confusion.
His love and His commitment are the basis of His knowledge of us. For this reason, He takes us by the arm and says: “This is the way, walk ye in it.” (Isaiah 30:21) God knows us intimately, and He knows the pathway that is best for us. Not only does He show us the way, but He walks with us as we travel the path that He has laid out for us.
As Christ’s sheep, we do not have to walk alone. Jesus knows us, and He knows the way! The question is: “Will we travel with Him, as He leads us each day?”
“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.”
(1 Peter 2:7)
The word “precious” means of great value or of high price. It also means to be dear or beloved in the eyes of the beholder. Peter makes it clear that believers in Jesus Christ should naturally have a great passion for Christ. He should be pursued with all of our hearts, because there is nothing more precious than he.
Is Jesus Christ precious in our eyes today? Perhaps, the world no longer sees Christ as being important, because believers have slowly lost sight of the preciousness of Jesus Christ. When Peter wrote the words: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” (1 Peter 2:7), he was writing to believers who were facing great persecution. These believers had a great passion for Christ, in spite of the great persecution they faced. They understood there was nothing of greater value in this life than having Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The Bible clearly shows us the preciousness of Christ in many ways.
1. Jesus Christ is precious because He is God in the flesh. The Book of John shows Christ’s deity in his works, his words, and his holiness. John wrote:
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) His Deity means that He has all the attributes of God the Father. Our worship, our words, our attitudes and actions should reflect our love and submission to Christ, who is God in the flesh.
2. Jesus Christ is precious because He is the only way of salvation. Mankind is under God’s condemnation. We are all born in sin and in rebellion to the Holy, Righteous God. However, God the Son came to earth to satisfy the Father’s justice. He took our sins upon Himself when He died upon the cross. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the object of our love because He took the punishment of our sin upon Himself.
3. Jesus Christ is precious because His love never ends. As Jesus was preparing to leave the earth, his disciples felt lonely. Despair had overcome them; yet Christ encourages them with words concerning His eternal love. Christ’s love for us isn’t based upon our performance, it is a love that never ends. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35)
4. Jesus Christ is precious because He is the Good Shepherd. Life presents many challenges. We face important decisions, immovable obstacles, sicknesses, and loneliness. Do people really care? Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10:14) Jesus knows our hearts. He leads us in the way we should go. He carries us with tenderness when the path seems impossible. He takes away our fears. He walks with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11)
5. Jesus Christ is precious because of His great promises. Christ not only gives us promises to encourage and exhort us, but He also keeps all of His promises. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4) Reflect upon His promises and know that Christ is more precious than anything else in this life. Here are just a few samples of His promises.
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” (Psalm 91:15)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” (Isaiah 46:4)
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)
With our finite minds, it is impossible to completely comprehend the preciousness of Christ. He is precious in all of His attributes, words and deeds. The more we know Him, the more precious He will become to us. When others see how precious Christ is to us, perhaps, they will start to take the claims of Christ seriously in their own lives.
“Dear Lord, I often take you for granted. I know that you are my Lord and Savior; yet, I don’t treasure my relationship with you. You are precious beyond all of my understanding. Help me to gaze upon you and see how precious you are to me. Amen.”
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
Election Day is finally here. The money has been spent by the candidates, The commercials are done. The phone calls have ended. Now, it is up to the American people to decide who will lead our nation for the next four years.
Tomorrow, there will be joy for many people and there will be sadness for many others. Whether your candidate wins or loses, it is important that we remember that the most important things in life will not change after today.
1. Jesus Christ has not changed. He is still the Savior of the world. He is still the Good Shepherd that cares for His sheep. He still is “the way, the truth and the life.” Our presidents change, governmental policies change, but Jesus Christ is our Rock who will never change. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:7)
2. The Word of God has not change. The laws of our land may change. The Supreme Court may uphold laws or reject them. However in the midst of our changing laws, God’s Word never changes. The promises of God do not change. The doctrines of the Word of God do not change. The Word of God should always remain in our hearts. “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)
3. The Promise of Christ’s Second Coming has not changed. One day, there will be no elections. There will be only one ruler, Jesus Christ. The promise of His coming is seen throughout the Word of God. “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16) When Jesus reigns, it will be with total righteousness!
4. The Mission of the Church has not changed. The mission of the church is not to change society by political means. We often get carried away with politics that we forget that our main mission is to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ’s final command has not changed. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19) The Gospel changes people, but we mustn’t let people change the Gospel.
5. God’s plan for the family has notchanged. Our laws may change concerning marriage, but we can still follow what God’s Word says concerning our family. Yes, husbands and wives are to love another. We can still be committed to the permanance of our own marriage. The family can still worship the Lord together. The family can still be a place of learning about the Lord and life itself. God’s view and purpose for your family will not change after this election.
No matter who wins the election tonight, I am fully confident that God is on the throne. His Word has not changed. His plan has not changed. This is a great time to put our focus back on those things that are above. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God!”
‘Dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes on you. I do not what the future holds for my life or for our nation, but I do know that your ways are best. Help me, to surrender my heart completely unto you. Amen”
Bible Treasures for Today 