May 2 Daily Devotional

The Flock of the Good Shepherd

the Rev. David Freeman

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
"Isaiah 40:11.

Devotional

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One can't be unclean and be in that little flock. The "Good Shepherd" will lead it safely to heaven, and every one of the sheep will have had its robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Look well and see if all your trust is in Jesus' blood and righteousness.

Upon all who are His sheep He places a seal. It is a new heart (Ezek. 36:26). This is an inward change, silently, invisibly, but powerfully wrought by the Holy Spirit. Without a new heart none will ever get to heaven. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." It will not be long before the Chief Shepherd will come, and set the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on His left. Where will you be in that day?

The flock of Christ is never divided. Sheep love to be with each other. They are never seen with wolves or with dogs, Especially when a storm is coming do they gather together close to their shepherd. The little flock of Jesus do not love to go with the world, but always with one another. Christian loves Christian. They have the same peace, the same Spirit, the same Shepherd. In this dark and cloudy day when Satan is going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, the sheep of Christ arc driven together to pray together, to sing praise together, and to hide in Christ together.

All that the sheep have and are they owe to their Shepherd, He gave His life for them. He is altogether lovely to their eyes. The wounds and sufferings which He endured they sing of and glory in.

Food, also, the sheep receive from Jesus. Complete care is His assurance to them. "By me if any man, enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture."

A little flock, but oh what a Great Shepherd. He is such a one as to lay down His life freely for His own. What sort of hearts have we if we are not drawn to Him and are not willing to give up all for Him?

Yes, His sheep do know Him. He gives them "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." Soon the sheep of the "little flock" shall "hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat."

Reader, do you know the Good Shepherd? Has He opened the door of His fold to you and has He drawn you in by the cords of His love?

"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.

David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.

There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.

We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!