Submit to the Shepherd (1 Peter 2:25)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date:  01-02-04

My Worship Time                              Focus:  Submit to the Shepherd

           

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 2:25

            Message of the verse:  “25  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”  (NKJV)  “25  Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.”  (NLT)

            Peter continues in this verse to write about what Isaiah was writing about in Isaiah 53, where he said “all we like sheep have gone astray.”  Luke also wrote about this in quoting a parable that Jesus gave about the lost sheep.  In the OT the sheep died for the shepherd, but Peter says that Jesus who is our Great Shepherd has died for His sheep.  Not only has He died for His sheep, but also He goes out and searches for them until He finds them.  Jesus is not only our Great Shepherd, but also He is also our Overseer or our Guardian, or our Bishop as Peter says in this verse.  The meaning of the Greek is as follows:  “1) an overseer

1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent

1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I again see love involved in this verse, the love of God for me through what Jesus Christ has done for me at the cross and is now doing for me each day as He is my Overseer.  Because of this great love that has been shown to me, I now owe Him my all each and every day.  “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow.”

The Word of God had a humbling affect on me today as I read it.  It also brought rejoicing to my soul.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Remember who is in charge of my life, the Lord Jesus Christ, and not go before Him, and not be to hastily, but wait upon the Lord to show His perfect plan to me in the midst of these trials.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 119:18 & 1Corinthians 10:13

            Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things out of Your Law.

            No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, why will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation provide a way of escape also, that you will be able to endure it.