The Shepherd and Bishop of your souls

1 Peter 2:25

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The apostle Peter, we can see, was familiar with Isaiah’s fifty-third chapter, as we notice allusions to that passage in this passage. He quotes, “By His stripes we are healed,” and “we were as sheep going astray.” These are all quotes from the great prophet. And is this not the natural state of every one of us? We are as sheep. We go our own way. We notice the pastures for which we think our hearts so desperately long, and begin to go out of the way, and stray from the Shepherd’s leading. We are as sheep going astray. Was there a particular time in your life in which you may identify that you went astray? Did you go astray from His leading, from His Word, and from His joy and peace. Did you stray from the protection of His fold? Maybe, my dear friend, in some little way, you are even now astray from His perfect and holy will. What must we do? There is one thing to do—return!

Peter says, ye are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. We must return! Turn back to the safety of the fold and to the security of the great and chief Shepherd. For He, the Lord Jesus, who bare our sins in His own body on the tree, is our Shepherd. He, through whose stripes we are healed, is the Bishop of our souls. Who is your Shepherd, my brother or sister? Who is the Bishop guiding you through the uncertainties and woes of this life? Are you looking for your own way through the hills and valleys? We must cease from this at once! For we know not the way. Only the Lord knows the way through the wilderness. All we must do is follow the Shepherd. My friend, if you have strayed, or if you have not strayed, let Him be your Shepherd and Bishop. Let Him guide you through the green pastures and through the valley of the shadow of death. For in Christ we have a most wonderful Shepherd, who may lead us every step that we take. He is the Bishop of our souls.

“Dear Lord Jesus, you are the Shepherd of our souls. You are the one who alone can lead us over each mountain, and through each foreboding valley. You alone can guide us across the fields of the world and the lonely wilderness of woe that we find ourselves in. But with you as our Bishop, we can have no fear! For Thou art with us! We are comforted by Thy rod and staff! May we always submit to Thee, our Shepherd, that we may be safe and protected from the wickedness and pitfalls that lay about us. We trust Thee for all these things. In Jesus’ wonderful name, Amen.”