“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5 NIV
- To know the goodness of God is to know the Good Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-6 ESV
- God’s goodness comes from His nature not our worthiness
- God’s mercy and love come from Who He is not our virtue
- The Good Shepherd takes responsibility for His sheep
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:1-5 NIV
- He leads them
- He provides for them
- To experience His goodness, I need to surrender complete control of my life
- The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” John 10:11-13 NIV
- He fights for and protects His own
- To experience His goodness, I need to believe that He has defeated my enemies: sin, Satan, and death
- The Good Shepherd knows His own
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father…” John 10:14-15 NIV
- He knows our names, natures, and needs
- To experience His goodness, I need to understand that He doesn’t love the better future me more than He does now
- The Good Shepherd’s sheep hear His voice and follow Him
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 NIV
- To experience His goodness, I need to listen for His voice follow His leading
- The Good Shepherd promises to keep His sheep eternally secure
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30 NIV
- Salvation cannot be conditional and still be eternal
- Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned
- To experience His goodness is to trust His promise of security