Christian Writers Circle

My Good Shepherd, Jesus
by Brenda D. Flowers

“…I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep….” (John 10:14, NKJV)

Recently, I attended my first Leadership Meeting of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), an international Bible Study organization whose vision is to “magnify God and mature His people.” In 2023-24, BSF is studying the book of John. One of our orientation discussion activities was to review Jesus’s seven I Am statements in the book of John and then choose which one or two resonated with us on a personal level.

(Judy Hitson listed these 7 I am statements in her blog post on this website entitled “The Great I Am”, dated Feb. 20, 2023 if you’d like to read them all.) 

After a time of prayer and silent contemplation of these Scriptures, each leader was to share her choice. I’ll be honest, I had a hard time deciding which I am statement to choose. Each one was very special to me. By doing this exercise, I realized how good God has been to me!

After a few more minutes of quiet, I knew I wanted to share how Jesus has truly been my Good Shepherd. 

What a blessing it was to share my testimony of why I chose this I am statement.

 Jesus has truly been a good shepherd to me by the way He has loved and cared for me over my lifetime. As a child, He tenderly cared for me . When I was wayward in my college years, He went after to me to bring me back in His fold. He spoke intimately to me with His quiet tender voice in a way that I knew it was His voice. 

Jesus has protected me over my lifetime. I have truly gone through many valley times with Him.  During these difficult times, I have felt Jesus’s embrace, His closeness. Like John, I have rested on Him, giving Him my cares. 

Over the years, I have had many times of celebration, too. I have experienced the joy of His presence and the exuberance of His life. I have noticed how Jesus cares for each person with a love language perfect for that person, like a shepherd cares for His sheep. 

As my Good Shepherd, Jesus assures me I am His and I will spend eternity with Him. 

I am thankful to be one of His sheep!