“I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!” – Ezekiel 34:16
Today, God wants us to remember: He pays attention to His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who always looks after us and searches for us each time we go astray. God comes looking after us no matter how many times we leave His presence and wander far from home.
The Good Shepherd’s love for His sheep is relentless and unconditional. His heart is to see that His sheep are in good condition, never lack anything, and out of danger’s way. His grace and compassion are further displayed in His untiring love and unrelenting patience in the pursuit of the lost sheep. And He doesn’t stop until they are restored safely in His care.
Finding The Lost, Broken, Sick, and Driven Away
“For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live.” – Ezekiel 34:11-13
Getting lost doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time for the sheep to wander into the world and conform to it. But because we are living in a sinful world, Christians are struggling with not yielding to the offers of pleasures, temptations, and worldliness. This is why many Christians have become numb to God’s voice, insensitive to the Holy Spirit, and uninterested in the Divine Things. Nowadays, some would find it very difficult to distinguish Jesus’ followers from those who are following the world.
Many sheep are also broken, sick (in the body and in the heart), and driven away. Some are “broken” by bitter disappointment; others by bereavement. And these aching hearts have wounds that are so sacred to be revealed that they chose to be left bleeding and desolate, refusing to be comforted. But God wants us to know: He is the Good Shepherd who knows the pains of His sheep. He is close to the broken-hearted.
He will not only search for them, but He will search until He discovers them. And then He will bring them home. For the Good Shepherd, no situation is too hopeless. No sheep is too far gone. The Good Shepherd’s love for us is undeterred by distance. For him, no distance is too great! His love is not lessened by difficulties or extreme challenges. He won’t be turned away even by our numbness to His voice. His desire for the Sheep is never put off by obstacles. Rather, He pursues us continuously. This is the Good Shepherd’s heart.
Bringing Justice and Restoring the Sheep
“So I will rescue my flock, and they will no longer be abused. I will judge between one animal of the flock and another. And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the LORD, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 34:22-24
During Israel’s time, God put an end to the tyranny and neglect of His people by His own supposed shepherds. But, because of man’s willful disobedience, sinful nature, greed, and pride, those God had put in place to attend to His people, to care for, lead, and feed them, had not only failed, but they also fed themselves at the expense of others. But the story is not finished since God stepped in to fix the problem Himself. He has now blessed His people with a Good Shepherd — focused on them, and this Good Shepherd, unlike the men who failed before Him, will not and does not and cannot fail.
Jesus restored our relationship so He is and will always be our God. We see Jesus sending more workers through the Great Commission into the harvest and many shepherds to seek the lost sheep. The Good Shepherd lived with, taught, and then laid down His life in our place so we could be with Him forever. We have so much attention given to us by God. We have the Good Shepherd who gave His all for us and He even had the whole Bible written for us. We have so much attention from Him that we have so many pastors, so many higher-ground leaders, so many life-groupers, so many church members, and so many family members and friends who God uses to bless us and shepherd us.
And now, we have direct access to the Good Shepherd. We can have our own journey with God. and He calls us by name. We can recognize and hear His voice. We cannot afford to miss the voice of the Good Shepherd. Don’t let anything get in the way. Jesus is the One who will care for you, love you, teach you, guide you, and draw you back. This is why we always point people to Jesus. Keep your ears attuned to His voice. The Good Shepherd is always pursuing you and He wants to speak with you. Even right now. So talk to Him.
