I am so very sorry that the message of Christ has been so complicated by other religions and cults among us. But God has a way of speaking directly to the heart when we cry out to Him. Call on His Name and he will show you Himself through His Spirit. We're not just dependent on a book or a teacher. God Himself will come to hungry hearts!

My personal favorite of the many ways of seeing Jesus in Scripture and my own life, is the picture of the Shepherd.

Many of you are familiar with David's famous Psalm 23 where he calls the Lord his Shepherd. There our God is depicted as one who supplies all our needs, gives us the rest our soul requires, makes us strong in the presence of enemies, even sees us through the valley of death. This Shepherd will take us eventually to the House of the Lord prepared for us in Heaven.

But wait! That's about God, the Father, is it not? Yes, but did you realize that Jesus also called Himself the Shepherd of the sheep? Not just "a" shepherd, but "the" Shepherd. There's no competition between Father and Son, just an eternal Oneness that lets you know that when you have seen one you have seen the other.

I like the powerful Jesus, the Eternal Jesus, but this Shepherd, this personal God and Savior, is the One I need every day. Sheep tend to wander off the path. The Shepherd gently brings them back on track. I need that.

I need someone as gentle and kind as Jesus in my life. It was said of the coming Messiah that He would never even break a "bruised reed" or extinguish "smoking flax." He takes us as we are and patiently makes us into what we ought to be.

This Jesus is the One Who said in Matthew's Gospel,

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I have been following this Jesus since I first heard Him call me to Himself as a young boy. I have learned of Him, and I want to share what I have learned with you. Jesus is still calling people to Himself, teaching them His ways.