Jesus, Shepherd of our Soul

1 Peter 2:18 You who are servants, be good servants to your masters - not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. 19 What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason. 20 There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. 21 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. 22 He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. 23 They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. 24 He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. 25 You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. (The Message)

The stained glass image above is from my boyhood church, El Buen Pastor UMC in Kingsville, Texas. It is an image of Jesus that calms my soul as it did when I was a boy. Peter shares in this passage, that we are to do the best we can in every situation in which we find ourselves whether we want to be there or not. We may not yet know the purpose for our being where, or suffering what we are, but with Christ in our presence we soon can shine even in the darkest of places. Jesus was no stranger to suffering, neither should we, His servants. Even in the midst of wrongdoing towards us, we should do no wrong against others, knowing that God will make right whatever is wrong. Jesus, Peter reminds us, carried our sins in His body all the way to the Cross and there, our sins were removed, our burdens lifted, and our brokenness made whole. Our wandering as lost sheep ended, and we found our way home to the Good Shepherd, the Shepherd of our souls.

The name of my church in Kingsville is The Good Shepherd. So, the image of the center stained glass window is the image of the Good Shepherd, who is holding a little lamb. Though the dark clouds may be looming in the background, there is still light and Jesus is holding us. The picture also shows the lushness of the area in which the sheep have been led, with still waters behind and a tiny brook near them as well. So it is with and in our lives.

The Shepherd knows your name. He's called you to faithfulness. Listen and obey.

PRAYER: Loving Shepherd, hold me when I need holding, release me when I need to go and do your bidding. Remind me of how much I am loved by You so that I can share that love to those who have not yet heard. As You call me by name, let me listen and obey. I pray this in Thy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde