Bible Reading: Psalm 119:153 – 176
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandment” -Psalm 119:176(KJV).
The Psalmist’s prayer, in this context, is a reflection of the state of the entire world. The purpose of seeking for the lost sheep was the reason Christ came. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” – Isaiah 53:6(KJV). The reason why man went astray is because we have all gone our own ways which runs contrary to the ways that God intended for us to follow. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” – Proverbs 14:12(KJV). God intended for us, through his word, to locate the acceptable ways that lead to peaceful living and coexistence. “Thus saith the LORD, stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said. We will not walk therein” – Jeremiah 6:16(KJV).
The bible is the manual of life God handed over to us. In it we locate our purpose on earth. But instead man began to operate his life outside the manual of life. The resultant effect is moral depravity and chaos. We began to produce decadence, corruption and violence. All other creations operate in harmony, only man’s existence is in disharmony because of derailing from God’s intended purpose. Man has really gone astray, hence the terrible and massive destruction being witnessed today. Whatever God deposited on earth was intended to enhance man’s living as they are discovered, but that is not to be as man have discovered other uses – destruction. For example, sex was given to man to enhance matrimonial harmony and bliss, but instead it has been turn to an orgy of entertainment. It has been used by the devil to derail destiny, destroy men and women, murder and cause war. Our society is witnessing serious moral declivity and perilous times. Children no longer respect elders and obey parents. Through the social media morals and decency has been thrown to the winds. The society applauds ill-gotten wealth thereby giving impetus to looting of national treasury. Even when the court convicts a criminal who embezzled public funds such individual is given prominence and hailed by the society. Man seems to be lost and confused.
The burden of redirecting man to God and His ways was laid on Jesus Christ. The great shepherd came trekking distances without horse ride, from town to town, province to province, he walked reaching out to the lost sheep of Israel and the Gentile nations. Only a few heard him and believed his teaching. The majority sought after his life because his teachings challenged the core of their nefarious living. In their hypocrisy and blindness they brought false accusation on him and handed him over to the Romans to scourge and crucify. From such level of pain and humiliation, Jesus emerge triumphant by fulfilling all requirement of scriptures for a ransom and atonement for the sins of man. The all-knowing God who purposed and planned man’s redemption opened the grave and received His Son into heaven bodily, having gloriously executed the deadliest blow to the powers of darkness for the purpose of freeing humanity from their stranglehold. The great Shepherd Jesus Christ declared in John 10:2-4(KJV).“But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” –
Jesus is the true Shepherd. No man can come to the father except through him. “Neither is there salvation in any other: For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” – Acts 4:12(KJV).
Dear friend, Jesus Christ is that true Shepherd that God sent to bring us back to His ways (ways of righteousness, uprightness, love, kindness, peace, harmony etc. etc.) in our earthly journey. Accept him today into your life and begin to experience supernatural lifting in the fulfilment of your destiny and purpose. May the love of God dawn in your heart and release the flow of His love towards you to bring you to the place of true reconciliation with your God, in Jesus name, Amen.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo