Looking for a shepherd for the sheep and goats

A sheepfold prepared for us all

Having the year of the sheep or the year of the goat, some may see all those sheep and goats wondering around, running in the wild, many not knowing where they can find a safe place to sleep in peace.

Grazing cattle on a pasture near Hradec nad Moravicí in Czech Silesia.

Of the many people going through the year of sheep or the year of the goats, some are not sure if they are a sheep or a goat or do want to belong to the sheep or the goats. Some sheep also wonder where their path is, which direction they should go and where they can find the best shepherd to bring them to the best sheepfold or pen.

Sheepfold (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A sheepfold was/is an enclosure in which sheep were sheltered at night. It was an area surrounded by a fence and having one opening that was used as a door. Here the sheepfold refers to the Jewish nation but also to the den which Jesus  the shepherd of the New Covenant, the New World wants to use for his followers.

Many came to the Jewish people, professing to be their spiritual rulers and guides. They were self-appointed messiahs for the nation. But they did not come by the way which the Old Testament predicted the Messiah would come.

Also when Jesus and his followers had died there still came shepherds calling people to follow them. There came all sorts of churches, sheepfolds, claiming to be the best sheepfold, but most of them though saying they are Christian do not follow the teachings and rules of that good shepherd which title they use in their name. Those teachers and other shepherds climbed up some other way. They presented themselves to Israel in a manner of their own choosing.
These men were not true shepherds, but thieves and robbers. Thieves are those who take what does not belong to them, and robbers are those who use violence in doing so. The Pharisees were as such thieves and robbers. They sought to rule over the Jews, and yet did everything in their power to hinder them from accepting the true Messiah. They persecuted those who followed Jesus, and eventually they would put Jesus to death.

Sheepfold. An abandoned sheepfold against a threatening sky. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Long, long ago the world was told a good shepherd would come. In the past was promised that no matter how things look to you right now, there is a new reality you need to know about. (Psalm 23) Lots of promises where given to the people in the world. Many did not want to listen to them. Still many do not want to give an ear to all those promises. But they are still valuable, they all can be taken up and for those who want to accept the given presents there is a new world to open. For all who did not know it yet, or who had not opened their present, which was already long ago (about 2 000 years ago) given, but by many not yet taken nor opened, there is still time to accept it and to open it.

The greatest present is that good shepherd, the only begotten beloved son of God. He is the new creation of the Creator Deity.

He is the one man who managed to succeed the exam with highest award. He succeeded in not doing his will but in always doing the will of his heavenly Father, the Master Shepherd or Most High Shepherd of the universe. He knew that this Master Shepherd has the best den for everybody and wants to bring all to this best-equipped stable.

When you have Israel the sheep, the chosen people of God, you also may see lots of Jews today who are not religious any more or who are wandering around not knowing what to belief. Also by the gentiles or the heathen there are several with questions about what to belief, what to follow, who to follow. they are the goats wandering around in the wild world, surrounded by the roaring wild animals.

An Inner Mongolian grassland in the People’s Republic of China

Can you see and understand that there are several people who are looking for some one who can take care of them and lead them to safer pastures?

Jehovah God has provided a Good Shepherd who will take care of you and of all those who are willing to follow him. Because he deeply cares for you and for all around you, and for all you don’t even know and even he did not know when he lived here on this earth.

He even gave his life to safe all . Those who want to follow him, who is the way, shall be protected by him, like the best shepherd shall protect his sheep. He shall not be like some servants who ran away as soon as it becomes to dangerous or to hot under their feet. He shall stay there with his clock at all dangerous moments. Every step of the way he shall be there with his flock. He also wants to see that flock together and not too spread out. He would love to see his sheep all united as one body, the Body of Christ. Though they may be all different and even be of different races or groups, he wants to see it as all the different elements and organs in one body, which move in the same direction and follow the same steps as the body itself. Every step is followed by that Good Shepherd who is the servant of the Master Shepherd, who keeps a close eye on everything what happens.

But the Master Shepherd has given everything in the hands of the Good Shepherd, Whom He trust. The Master Shepherd counts on it that the Good Shepherd can choose between the goats and sheep who to keep and who to bring to the slaughter.

We should look for that Good Shepherd and find him, for us to follow and to let others follow him as well.

The Lord is my Good Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Your Good Shepherd will fill your life with goodness and love and shall be open for all those who you bring to him, willing to be under his care. He will do this all the days of your life here, and bring you into his house to enjoy that goodness and love forever.

He told his disciples not to be afraid and asked them why they still had no faith. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭40-41) It was only after his death, his resurrection and after he had gone away from this earth that their coin dropped and really came to understand what this position of that Messiah and king was. They received the Holy Spirit. The Force of God came over them. We also should let that Force of God come over us and let it go through our bones and veins. Our blood should be filled with blood-plates of the blood of Christ, enlightened by the Spirit of God.

Jesus asked his disciples to go home to their own people and to tell them what they had heard and seen. We too should, though we have not seen, tell others what we have read and heard, and wherein we have found faith. We should get others also to see the Good Shepherd and should want to go with many followers to that one sheepfold prepared for us all.

Though we may not forget that Jesus did what God desired and wants us also to follow his path to follow the Wishes of God:

God desires willing servants who long to humble themselves and represent Him. Let us pray to be Christ’s representatives by having humble, willing hearts that desire what God desires. What an act of worship when we conform our hearts to God’s heart, through the power of His indwelling spirit. {What God desires}

In these perilous times, where bad news is increasing, evil is abounding, we should be more careful to find the right shepherd. To do that, there is a new platform, a new website, offering information for all, about that Good Shepherd, showing who it is, what he did and why we should belief in him and follow him. “Messiah for all” wants to show why we should believe the Nazarene Jew Jeshua, Jesus Christ, is the Way, the one shepherd to follow and to bring us to the best pastures which the Master Shepherd has provided for all His creation.

We may have lots of questions, we may be afraid, but we do not have to be afraid. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Also today his voice is still resounding all over the world.

“27 my sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. they will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 my father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the father’s hands.” (John 10:27-29 CJB)

Would you not like to have a marvellous, beautiful life where there is for ever peace and tranquillity, without an end?

“also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16 CJB)

Let us become part of that one flock and follow Jesus and no other man.

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Preceding article: Happy Chinese New Year

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Please do find also to read:

1. When you don’t know what to do and hate yourself
2. Breathing and growing with no heir
3. Colour-blindness and road code
4. A beginning with many false starts
5. Starting block
6. If Doubt
7. May we have doubts
8. Are people allowed to have doubts
9. Doubting and going astray
10. Background to look at things
11. The Way To Life
12. Servant of his Father
13. The Servant’s Prayer
14. On the first day for matzah
15. His Life for the Sheep
16. This is an amazing thing
17. Evangelisation, local preaching opposite overseas evangelism
18. Let me keep to “first importance” things
19. Lovers of God, seekers and lovers of truth
20. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God
21. To be prepared and very well oiled
22. Atonement And Fellowship 6/8
23. Those who love Jesus
24. When Jesus saw their faith
25. Hanukkahgiving or Thanksgivvukah
26. Two states of existence before God
27. United people under Christ
28. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian

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Additional reading:

1. Jesus the True Shepherd
2. Well Cared For. Well Protected. Today and Forever.
3. Divine Protection For Perilous Times

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