Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

August 19– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.” 

—Micah 5:4

Christ’s reign in his Church is that of a shepherd-king. He has supreme authority, but he exercises it as a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock; he commands and receives obedience, and his well-cared-for sheep willingly obey the voice of their much-loved Master.

His reign is practical in its character. The great Head of the Church is actively engaged in providing for his people. He doesn’t sit on his throne and wield his scepter for nothing. No! He rules. He stands and feeds his sheep, and the idea here is complete; that is, he does everything expected of a shepherd– he guides, watches, preserves, restores, tends, as well as feeds.

His reign is continual. He doesn’t feed them now and then. He doesn’t grant a revival one day and then leave his Church to wither away the next. He never falls asleep, and his hands never rest. His heart never ceases to beat with love, and his shoulders never weary of carrying his people’s burdens.

His reign implements the will of God. Wherever Christ is, there is God; and whatever Christ does is the act of God. It is a joyful truth to consider that the One who represents the interests of his people is very God of very God to whom every knee will bow.

We are happy to have such a shepherd whose humanity communes with us and whose divinity protects us. Today, let’s worship and bow down before him as the sheep of his pasture. [M&E]