1 Peter 2:25 KJV
[25] “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
In the Old Testament, the sheep died for the shepherd, but in the New Testament, the Shepherd died for the sheep. Every sinner is like a sheep that has gone astray. They have wandered ignorantly in this dangerous world without knowing the destruction awaiting them. The Shepherd died for them and now searches for them out in this world to bring them safely into His fold.
The word bishop means “one who watches over or oversees.” Christ is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. He not only saved us, but He has kept us. What a blessing to know that we have a living and gentle Shepherd. He takes care of the sheep He has already rescued but continues to seek others who need His care.
Here is a question we must ask ourselves about our watchful Shepherd. What does He desire of us? He did not save us to sit and graze in His pasture and get fat in the field. How do we please the Shepherd who has cared so much for us? If you are saved, the answer is within you.
The Shepherd desires that we love Him and live for Him. He wants us to have a heart for Him, just as He has a heart for us. We must be willing to submit to His will and walk in His ways. He doesn’t require this of us to control our lives but to bless us. He wants us to walk in His ways to learn more about Him and become more like Him. To be more like Jesus should be the goal of every child of God.
Some claim to know Him but have no desire to be like Him. Dear reader, what is your desire today? Do you long to live in His presence? Do you long to be like Jesus? I understand that we sometimes struggle in our daily walk with the Lord, and none of us have arrived. We will never be fully like Him until we get to glory. However, even though we may stumble and fall along the way, our desire to get back up and strive to be what He wants us to be counts the most. He sees that and understands that we are but dust. He will help us in our failures and defeats if we acknowledge Him. What a blessing to know that our watchful Shepherd is daily going before us. We must not stray from His path or His presence. We must daily read His Word, seek His face, and do His will.