Trusting the Shepherd Who Gave His Life
May 8, 2024 · 1:24:55 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
This midweek gathering opened with a reminder that God's Word falls on an open heart the way rain and snow fall on an open field (Isaiah 55). It never returns empty but always does its work, so nothing should be allowed to stand between heaven and our hearts. A second brother, reading from 1 Peter 1, spoke humbly of his own frailty, of twice being close to death, and urged the church to keep believing, hoping, and loving, since the wings of the Holy Spirit are faith and humility.
Reflecting on Sunday's communion, one preacher took up the hard question of Gethsemane (Luke 22): was Jesus afraid of the cross when He prayed for the cup to pass? Tracing John 10 and 12, Hebrews 5 and 10, he concluded there was no fear, for perfect love casts out fear. The agony, even sweating blood, was the enemy's last assault, and Christ prayed not to die in the garden before reaching Golgotha. An angel strengthened Him so He could finish the work, and a poem about the thief on the cross showed that all of us, like that dying man, were rescued by sheer grace.
A further message rested on Psalm 23 and John 10: the Lord is my shepherd. We entrust God with the greatest thing, our eternity, yet often refuse to give Him the small daily worries, though His thoughts are far higher than ours. The service ended with a call to fast and pray for the church, recalling how King Hezekiah carried his crisis straight into the house of God and was delivered.
Key Points
- God's Word, like rain on open ground, never returns empty, so keep your heart open to receive it.
- Christ was not afraid of the cross; perfect love casts out fear, and He laid down His life willingly.
- In Gethsemane Jesus prayed for strength to reach Golgotha, not to escape it, and an angel came to help Him finish.
- Like the thief on the cross, every one of us was saved by pure grace when we answered Christ's call.
- Confess daily, Lord Jesus, You are my shepherd, trusting Him with the small worries as well as the great ones.
- God's thoughts are higher than ours, so His way is always better than our own plans.
- Love your church enough to fast and pray for it, as Hezekiah brought his crisis into the house of God.
Devotional
In Gethsemane the Son of God sweat blood, yet not one drop was wasted, for He pressed on so that you and I could be saved. The thief beside Him had nothing to offer but a whispered plea, and that was enough to open the gates of paradise. Whatever you are carrying today, hand it to the Shepherd who has already given His life for you. Trust Him not only with eternity but with the small worries of this very hour, for His thoughts are higher and His mercy never runs out.
“The wings of the Holy Spirit are faith and humility.”
“Christ was never afraid of the cross; perfect love casts out fear.”
“Say it every day: Lord Jesus, You are my shepherd.”
