Daily Devotionals

John Gossner's Treasury

Devotional: March 5th

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. Isaiah 40:11. He that scattered Israel will gather him, as a shepherd doth his flock. Jeremiah 31:10. Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out, as a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep. Ezekiel 34:11-12.

The three major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, testify for us to Christ’s faithfulness as a ’’shepherd" which He Himself has described most beautifully and touchingly in John 10 and in Luke 15. He is no dreadful and terrifying ruler. He is our shepherd. He does not consider us as bondmen, but as His sheep. He does not want wool, gain and profit from us. He seeks only our welfare and salvation. He does not despise any of His sheep, not even the most miserable, not even those who are gone astray and lost. He seeks after them with untiring zeal, and if He has found one, it is to Him as though He had found a kingdom. He accepts all as His sheep. That which the world despises and rejects. He gathers with care and love, watches and preserves with tender faithfulness. He does not leave His sheep to the hirelings; He Himself cares for His sheep. How many points of advantage, then, do the sheep of Christ have, who know Him as their good shepherd, experience His faithfulness as a shepherd and are under His protection? Oh, why do not all men make haste to come to Him? Why do so many despise this great happiness of being one of Christ’s sheep? When shall the time come when there shall be one fold and one shepherd? It shall, it must come. "He that scattered Israel will also gather him. "

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tenderest care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us.

For our use Thy folds prepare;

Blessed Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.