Remembering Our Blessed Shepherd

Yesterday we took note of the fact that Christ rules us as a shepherd Who is deeply concerned with our well-being as His sheep.

Let us now take note of the fact that long after His birth wise men came from afar to worship Him. They did this many days before Herod sent out soldiers to kill all the male children two years old and younger. Here then are those that loved Christ, and those who hated Him and wanted Him killed.

Let us also appreciate the fact that they came to worship Jesus long after the day of His birth. This underscores the truth that one day in a year is not the only time when we should reveal our spiritual interest in His coming as our savior and king. Our thankfulness for His coming into our flesh to save us from our sins must be in our hearts every day in every month of every year. Even if we live to be, as Anna was, 100 years old, for us to come before God to thank Him for our Savior 100 times (i.e., once a year) would be, not a worthy thing, but a shame. Every day, in every week, of every year we should come to our God and thank Him for having sent His Son as our Good Shepherd, Who is now watching over us in love, and preparing the way for His return to bring us to heavenly blessedness.

Listen! We read of those wise men, who had true wisdom in their souls, that they wisely went such a great distance, and on a day other than the one on which Jesus was born. They revealed by this that they are wise men.

Go then to God with heart and soul to thank Him for sending His Son for our salvation. Open the Scriptures daily to see more clearly what His Son did for us. Put all your trust in His return to finish His work as our Savior, our kind and tender shepherd. Confess by deeds as well as words, "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want."

Then you will also say that wherewith these devotionals began the first day of this year: "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Read: Psalm 23

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Malachi 1; Malachi 2:1-17 
Revelation 21:1-27 
Psalm 149:1-9 
Proverbs 31:10-24 
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Quote for Reflection:

"…Man wants to rid himself of the obligation to serve his Creator. He registers a complaint against his divine Employer in order to justify himself in his sin. He tries to justify a strike. His Employer is unjust. The requirements imposed upon him by the Almighty are too severe. The demands of God are far too exacting; they far exceed his capacity; he can never fulfill them. And so he refuses to shoulder his obligation. No one, not even God, has the right to demand of him what he cannot perform!"  - Herman Hoeksema