Who Am I To You?

My Shepherd is the LORD;

He cares for every sheep.

My God is never too busy;

Kinsman- Redeemer never sleeps.

King David was a shepherd. When he wrote Psalms 23, he used his knowledge and experience. Repeating what David wrote when you pray is a starting point for a beginner. However, after a while, King Jesus becomes a friend who desires a deeper personal relationship with you. He wants to get intimate. One day the friendship will reach the point at which Jesus asks:

“Who am I to you?”

He asked the disciples that question. Jesus introduced the topic by asking:

“Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?”

Character is determined by your action, your speech and by what others say about you. After discussing what people were surmising about Jesus, Peter revealed the truth.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

If anyone knew this fact, it should have been John the beloved who was comfortable laying his head on Jesus’ bosom. But, Jesus’ bosom friend did not make the declaration.

Jesus commended Peter for his answer. How did this uneducated fisherman become so smart? The Holy Spirit told him the answer! Jesus had to let him know that he had received help but not from a human being. Today, the Holy Spirit is still providing answers to the questions of life. Have you ever been in a situation that backed you seemingly into a corner, yet you were able to escape the dilemma? God provided the escape route for you. He invites all to call upon Him and expect to receive answer and help. People need the Lord.

David professed the Lord as his leader and summarized the benefits of that relationship in Psalms 23. However, God is not the primary choice of many people. They follow whoever is available based on their concepts. Two kittens demonstrated this truth. Snow White abandoned Snowball and Gat Brown shortly after their birth. Soon, the kittens, roosters and hens were eating from the same dish. When the rooster appears in the morning to check the dish for food, the kittens queue up behind him and march to the porch! One day I witnessed them using a tug o’ war method to eat the corn off the cob. Do cats eat corn? When my brother scattered some corn for the chickens, the kittens followed the trail and ate it. We reached a humorous conclusion: the company you keep influences you. Or, the kittens think the rooster is their mother.

After the healing of the man at the Gate beautiful, Peter and John seized the opportunity to share their faith. The Jewish leaders marvelled at their performance. Although they regarded Peter and John as uneducated men because of their unscholarly background, the declaration that these men had been with Jesus was a compliment. Daily fellowship with Jesus infuses an individual with boldness and intellectual prowess that surpasses human understanding. God says that when you open your mouth for Him, He will fill it and speak through you.

Who is Jesus to me? Reflection on a Shepherd holds the key.

Jehovah, the Shepherd, is my Lord

His Living Word, the Bible, is my Sword.

www.ayldepot.net

The Shepherd theme appears often in my writing, sometimes as lyrics. During the last week of February 2000, an intense study of Psalms 23 resulted in a prose book of twelve chapters. When the fullness of time arrives, the book will be published. For this I am thankful.

You know who God is to me. Who is God to you?