Tag: Great Shepherd
Day 3–Equipping Blessing
Scripture reading for June 17: Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
The writer of Hebrews closed his letter with a short prayer and blessing. This prayer confesses Jesus as Lord and our Great Shepherd. It humbly asks that through the blood of the eternal covenant Christ Jesus would equip us with everything we need to fulfill His will and that He would work into our character and life that which pleases Him. The blessing closes with a declaration of ascribed glory to Jesus Christ forever and ever!
This prayer and blessing is a good one for responders to declare daily over their lives. Let’s look at the Names of God mentioned in the blessing. First, ‘The God of peace” is acknowledged. Peace is one of the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit and peacemaking is one of the blessings taught by Jesus in yesterday’s devotion. (Matthew 5:9) Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be known as the ‘Prince of Peace’ in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus brings us peace through forgiveness of sins by His sacrifice of His body and blood on the cross. Now our resurrected Lord Jesus mediates our peace by prayer seated at the Father’s right hand. He equips us to become peacemakers and bless others, reflecting God’s nature.
Jesus is also our ‘Good Shepherd’ and here addressed as ‘the Great Shepherd of the sheep.’ Shepherds guide the sheep, leading them to safe pastures and streams of water. They give the sheep everything they need to follow and reproduce. Shepherds also protect the sheep from wolves and predators. The Great Shepherd provides everything we need to do His will and works His plans into our lives as His sheep. All good sheep can only give glory to Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd forever and ever!
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are made known to us as ‘the God of peace’ and our ‘Great Shepherd’ Who made with us an eternal covenant of peace through Jesus’ shed blood. I surrender to You to work in me what is pleasing in Your sight equipping me to do Your will. To You be glory forever! Amen.
Our Great Shepherd!
Scripture reading for October 30: Hebrews 13
“Now may the God of Peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
The writer of Hebrews concludes his letter with a blessing for a benediction. I love blessings and all God’s people love to be blessed and rejoice in their deliverance from the curse of sin and death. Here God the Father is called the “God of Peace” because of His wonderful plan of redemption that worked out peace with God and sinners who were separated from God and under His wrath. His amazing plan was to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to demonstrate the love of the God of Peace. Jesus would be God’s final Word that would draw mankind to repentance and faith and adoption into His forever family.
Jesus Christ is introduced in this blessing as the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Jesus came to call His sheep out of the world of sin and darkness. He came to lead them to quiet waters of peace with God and green pastures of transforming food. This Great Shepherd laid down His own life as a sacrifice for sin to purchase back the lost sheep. He gave His own blood to make an ‘eternal covenant’ of righteousness by faith. The Father sent His Holy Spirit to equip the purchased sheep to love Him and others and do His will. The Holy Spirit would make them pleasing to God as He worked increasing faith and obedience into their lives through a deeper walk with God. All this results in glory and honor and praise to God the Father and Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen!
Have you received this blessing from the God of Peace? Are you pleasing God through a life of faith, doing what is pleasing in His sight? Is the Great Shepherd leading you each day to fulfill God’s will and live a life of peace and worship?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your peace through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the Great Shepherd Who leads me daily through His Holy Spirit to do what is pleasing to God. May my life and faith bring joy and glory to my Great Shepherd and the God of Peace. Amen.
I receive the blessing!
Scripture reading for March 4th: Numbers 6-7, Hebrews 13
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
The Jewish believer who wrote Hebrews, ended his letter with a wonderful benediction or blessing. He speaks a prayer of blessing over believers that the “God of peace” Who raised Jesus Christ, His Son, from the dead, would equip them with all they needed to do His will and be pleasing in His sight. The “Great Shepherd” Jesus Himself would enable them. His glory would be eternal! Amen!
Numbers 6:22-27 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” So shall you put My Name upon the people of Israel and I will bless them.”
Faith Confession and prayer: I receive the blessings of God through Jesus Christ my Lord and Great Shepherd, risen from the dead by my Father of peace. Lord, equip me afresh today to do Your will and bring You eternal glory. Amen!
Grace to the humble!
Scripture reading for November 13th: 1st Peter 5
The heart is the main focus of our Lord regarding men and women. (Mark 7:20-23) Man focuses on the exterior and appearances, and what others might think. Peter finished his letter to the suffering church and her leadership by addressing their need for humility and God’s grace!
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1st Peter 5:1-3) Elders must remain humble and serve willingly. Just telling people what they should do was not enough, they must humbly live as examples. The promise was a “crown of glory” from Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd! (vs 4)
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” (1st Peter 5:5-6) Peter emphasized humility to young men and all of those in the church. The principle is simple: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” We can either humble ourselves or have God opposing us! That should be an easy choice for anyone with spiritual sense! His grace will truly lift us up–all the way to His eternal kingdom! God is looking for a heart of humility and willing submission to shower His grace upon.
Jesus: Worthy of Worship!
Scripture reading for October 30th: Hebrews 13
In this letter, the writer of Hebrews has done all he can to call the Hebrew Christians to continue confidently in their pursuit of Christ! The final words are very practical in light of the Great Shepherd of our souls who alone is worthy of our worship!
“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:1-5) Jesus is always with us and promised to be with us always! (Matthew 28:20) In light of this, we must live a life of worship by obeying His commands and example. Jesus loved the world enough to die for them, even though all men were sinners. Jesus identified with the poor, needy and suffering, having compassion on them. Jesus forgave sin but called all to repentance. Without repentance, there is no forgiveness and God will judge sin. Money and possessions will not save us in the Day of Christ’s return!
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess His Name. And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:15-16) Living a life of worship and good deeds keeps us ready for the Great Shepherd when He comes again!