Monday Morning Encouragement -- Shepherd of My Soul

"For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:25

This past week while reading my Bible I came to today's scripture verse: "For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Peter's words jumped off the page and I stopped for awhile and let those blessed words sink in. Jesus is the Shepherd of my soul. He is the Overseer of my soul.

Since that morning I have continued to ruminate on the beauty and importance of recognizing the Lord Jesus as not only my Shepherd, but the Shepherd of my soul! The soul is distinct from the body in that the body will eventually die and decay. However, the soul will not die. It is eternal.

I know what will happen to my soul after this life because I have placed the entrusting of my soul into the loving hands of my Savior. A day is coming when my soul -- that which is spiritual and immaterial and eternal -- will leave this shell in which it resides (my body) and I will soar into the arms of my Shepherd. He is guarding my soul. He is keeping it. I rest in that knowledge.

I may have mentioned here before that I have a print in my bedroom of Jesus holding a lamb close to His heart. A photo of that print is at the top of this devotional. This so exquisitely represents to me how Jesus loves me. The nail scar seen in His hand reminds me that He suffered and shed His blood on the cross for my sins. All of them for all time. He atoned for every one. His embrace tells me that I am precious to Him and always will be. And the lamb's expression of contentment reflects the contentment and peace I feel when I consider the wonder of Christ's sacrifice to bring me a straying lamb back into His fold.

Barnes Notes from the Bible has this to say about 1 Peter 2:25:

"It follows that the welfare of the soul may be committed to Him with confidence. It is the object of His special guardianship, and He will not be unfaithful to the trust reposed in Him. There is nothing more safe than the human soul is when it is committed in faith to the keeping of the Son of God."

How true! I pray you know Jesus this way. May He always be praised!

Today's music video Good Shepherd of My Soul is sung  a cappella by Joni Eareckson Tada, Kristyn Getty (and band). I know you will enjoy this beautiful hymn.

There's still time to enter the giveaway for a copy of Cheryl Smith's book Homespun Devotions Volume Two,  If you haven't already done so, just leave a comment saying you'd like to be entered in the giveaway. The giveaway will be open through July 17th, and a winner will be selected on July 18th. 

You can read my review of her book at the end of last week's A Joyful Cottage devotional.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of Cheryl's book, you can find it on Amazon.

As always, I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.