The twenty-third psalm reveals the beauty of Jesus as our strong, steadfast shepherd. The psalm used action words, such as “leads” and “restores,” to show us Christ’s continual desire to lead our lives. As the Shepherd of our souls, God guides us through the messiness of our everyday lives. He knows the path before us. As the body of Christ, we respond by saying, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

• When we think of a shepherd’s character, we can’t help but think of Jesus. Shepherds understand the needs of their flock and will always lead them to safety. Shepherds walk before their flock and the sheep learn to recognize their voices. Jesus spoke of himself in this way (cf. John 10:11-16). In what ways have you experienced Jesus leading you like a shepherd? Jesus said his “sheep” listen for his voice. How can you listen for Jesus’ voice today?
• Jesus also depicted himself as a shepherd in Luke 15:3-7. The Parable of the Lost Sheep painted the picture of a shepherd leaving his ninety-nine safe sheep to find one lost one. The shepherd rejoiced when he found it, calling, “Celebrate with me because I’ve found my lost sheep” (verse 6). Often we feel lost in the midst of our busy lives. Jesus seeks us, too, and celebrates when he finds us when we feel lost and defeated. In what ways have you felt lost this week? How does Jesus as the Good Shepherd comfort you when you’ve lost your way?