“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:1, 2)

A Good Shepherd leads.  He knows the way and He calls us to follow. 

It is always important to have a good leader on any trip.  We do not have to worry about going the right way or if we will miss a turn.  We can have the confidence that allows us to enjoy the journey.  A good leader brings comfort and success in any endeavor. 

In our reading of Psalm 23 today, David tells us that the Lord…The Good Shepherd…leads us beside “quiet waters”.  The Good Shepherd doesn’t just watch the sheep…He leads them.  We, as sheep, do not always know the right way to go.  Sheep do not know where the watering holes are.  We do not know what is ahead and where the dangers may lie, but the Good Shepherd does know.  He knows the landscape and He calls us to follow. When Jesus talked about Himself as the Good Shepherd He said:

 “He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.  When He has brought out all His own, He goes ahead of them, and His sheep follow because they know His voice.” (John 10:3,4)

A good leader/shepherd knows his sheep by name and calls for them to come.  “Over here.  Come this way”.  He calls and directs them and He goes ahead of them.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who goes first and calls us by name to follow.  He is the pioneer of our faith.  He can say, “I have been there, done that”.  We can be assured that He knows the way and would not steer us wrong.  There is a relationship between the sheep and the Shepherd.  He not only “knows” us, but we know Him.  When you know the Shepherd and trust Him following comes naturally.  No wonder the disciples left their nets to join Jesus.  No wonder they stuck with Him all the way to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Will you let Jesus lead you to the cross today?  Hear the words of this hymn:

“King of my life, I crown Thee now, Thine shall the glory be; Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary.   Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary” (Jeannie Hussey)

Today, let The Good Shepherd lead you.  You do not need to be afraid.  He knows where He is going and where you need to go.