Return to the Shepherd and Overseer of Your Souls

4-26-26

Hoonah-Hadley

1 Peter 2:19-25

Call to Worship Psalm 23

Daily Verse 1 Peter 2:25

Return to the Shepherd and Overseer of Your Souls

“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” To say that Christ is your Savior is wonderful news. To say that He is Lord of your life is a beautiful thing. To say that He is your Shepherd is more than addition, it is a multiplication of the power and authority God has in your life. If you can say with certainty what David proclaimed in the famous 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd”, and return there daily, a transformation will take place in you that cannot be explained outside of God’s amazing grace. There is no other way, no other door, no one else by which we might be saved, none, zero, only Christ. John 10:9 “I am the door, if anyone enters by Me they will be saved.” Psalm 23 is likely the most quoted scripture, actually we might go as far to say the most quoted anything. We’ve heard it used at funerals for folks that spent their entire lives apart from Christ, had no interest in the narrow gate whatsoever. When all hope is lost and life comes to an end, the family may find a glimmer of hope or some kind of closer by putting Psalm 23 on a card with their loved ones photo on it. Why is it that God’s word is used by believers and non-believers alike at the beginning and end, but maybe, maybe not, in between? I can’t speak for everyone, but it seems that the birth of a child would leave any one dumbfounded at the miracle of life, and if not flat out praising God from the roof top, at least silently within utter the same thing when the plane touches down: “Thank God!”

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Naturally most folks thank God at the birth of a child, some have them baptized as infants, and then when grandpa passes away we hope he goes to heaven and if putting Psalm 23 on a card will help him get there then that’s the best we can do. John chapter 10, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2, Acts chapter 2 are not just words to go on a card at the end of one’s life, they are words to live by every day. There were two thieves, one on either side of Christ. The one joined Him, the other was eternally separated from Him. Long before your name goes on the card, your eternal dwelling is determined, the card will not get you where your family hopes you will go. The hope of heaven rests on the threefold chord of Savior, Lord and Shepherd and the entering of that door. It is He that makes us lie down in green pastures. It is He that leads us beside still waters. It is He that restores our souls. It is He that leads us in the paths of righteousness. It is He that prepares a table before us. It is He that anoints our heads with oil. But, there is always a but, but Brother James says, we have to come to the table. Notice in John 10:9, “I am the door, if anyone enters…” Jesus is the door to salvation but in order that we might be saved, we must enter that door. Our enteral dwelling hinges on the simplest, smallest hardware, that red two letter word, “if”. Actually there are folks with scripture on their headstones that sold their souls to the devil near the end of their life, some out of ignorance, some knowingly. How do I know this, I talked to them, they told me. One fellow flat out said, “Kirk, I think I may have sold my soul to the devil.” True story. I shared that story with a friend and they asked me, “Why would you sell your soul at the end of your life?” Good question. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36) Happens all the time. The devil waits for an opportune time to return, often it is near the end of life.

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In another recent conversation, a 75 year old man, nearly, or partially homeless, physically broken, spent more time talking about winning the lottery than asking the question from Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles…’What shall we do?’” The answer, one word, real simple, “Repent!” Old Testament, New Testament, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Matthew, Luke, Peter, Revelations, Jesus Christ, one word, “Repent!” Turn, or in our case today, “Return to the shepherd and overseer of your soul.” Before we continue, a pastors warning: scripture is contrary to our nature. God’s word often does not make sense to our worldly, fleshy, secular programing, our genetic disposition if you will. For example Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Now what are we supposed to do with that? How bout Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” At a bible study one night an elder said “I want to hear the whole gospel.” Question, do you want to hear the whole gospel, the stuff that is hard to swallow, or just the stuff that makes you feel good? Yes, God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love, but He is also the God of Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Another elder asked one time, “Why don’t you preach on hate?” Ah, because you want people coming to church? Genesis 25:23, Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:11-13 teaches about God loving Jacob but “hating” Esau. God is love, but there are also things He hates, things that make Him angry, one version calls Him an “wrathful, unquenchable fire.” I say all this to introduce the next verses in 1 Peter 2:19-21 because we are called to it.

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“For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” In its simplicity we are called to suffer unjustly. Vs. 20 says there is no trophy, no credit for receiving a beating for doing wrong. The second half of that verse is all together different. “But, if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God.” Anyone ever suffer unjustly? Did you endure it or did you throw a fit? If we could put things in perspective, our Savior being beaten and nailed to a cross was the ultimate example of unjust suffering. If we go back to vs. 18 “Servants be submissive to your masters…” What was Christ? A servant. And what did He do? Good. Herein once again that little hinge upon which life swings, “if”. If you suffer for doing good… Romans 12:19-20 “…do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’” The gospel of Jesus Christ is many things, it calls us to many things, not the least of which is suffering. In 2 Cor. 4:17 the apostle Paul calls it “a light and temporary affliction.” It’s the truth that sets us free, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. John 1:14 “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth.” He suffered for us as an example. Vs. 21 “…to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow.” He bore our sins that we might live for righteousness, by His stripes we are healed. Why? “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Savior, Lord, Shepherd, called, return, follow. Amen!