I was praying the other day and the Lord released these words:
"For many of My people, the enemy has been trying to cause them to lose their way and lose their direction in life. But I am telling you this is a lie of the enemy. I am still your Good Shepherd and I am still your Guiding Light in times of need. I hold the keys to your doors and I hold the keys to your breakthroughs. Look to Me, hear My voice and follow Me, and I will show you the way to your open doors and breakthroughs."
This is going to be a very pastoral message, a message that's going to minister to some of you, especially if you have lost your way in life, lost your purpose in life, or even lost your direction in life during this prolonged time of pandemic.
Luke 15:1-4 (NKJV) says, 'Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?"'
Here, Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees and scribes why He chose to associate with "sinners and tax collectors". So, He told them this parable of the lost sheep where He identified Himself as a 'shepherd', and the people as 'a flock of sheep'. The 'ninety-nine sheep' here represent 'the righteous', whereas the single 'lost sheep' (in the context here, a lost sheep of Israel) represents 'the secularized and godless among the people' those days.
Even though the main context of Luke 15:1-4 is about the 'lost sheep of Israel', this parable can apply to all of us too. Maybe you aren't lost in sins, but you feel lost in life, in your purpose in life, or even in your direction in life. In fact for some of you, you don't even know who you are anymore! I know of some people, especially during this time of prolonged pandemic (or prolonged lockdown in some places) who are actually feeling this way.
Beloved, if you are one of these, take heart and be encouraged. The Lord your God hasn't forgotten you nor forsaken you. He is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He is still your Good Shepherd (John 10:14) and your Guiding Light (John 8:12).
In John 10:11-14 (NKJV), Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."
Before that, in John 10:1-4 (NKJV), Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."
Do you see that? He calls you by name! The truth is He is a personal God, and in every situation (or any unique situation) you are going through, He cares for you. No one may fully understand what you are going through at the moment, but He understands.
You see, the world may dump you or sideline you when you are deemed to be useless. Your employer may retrench you when you are not as useful anymore. Your customers may dump you when they find another better source. This is unfortunate, but this is a fact we all face in this fallen world.
But Jesus your Good Shepherd will never dump you or sideline you. Why? Because He loves you and cares for you like none other, like no one else on earth. He is not a hireling. When danger comes, the hireling will flee and run away. But He the Good Shepherd will never flee or run away. He is still with you and He is still for you, even in times like these. And know this: He doesn't treat you like an impersonal robot or machine to be dumped when you become useless or incapable. No way!
Not only is He your Good Shepherd, He is also your Guiding Light.
In John 8:12 (NKJV). Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
His light expresses His great love for you. His light, "the light of the world", guides you from the gloom of sin, and makes a way out for you. And whatever the gloominess may be in this world at the moment, be assured He knows how to make a way out for you.
Therefore, look to Him and walk in His light no matter what happens around you, and you'll be sure to find the bright path to your open doors and breakthroughs. In Jesus' name. Amen.
