Jesus said
“I Am the Good Shepherd”
Max Lucado is quoted as saying that “rules without relationship produces rebellion”; which is a great saying, but you are wondering how that ties in with Christ being the Good Shepherd. The tie that binds the concepts together is relationship. Christ said, ”I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
The way you get to know someone is by spending time with that person. The way we get to know Christ is by spending time with Him. The time we spend with Christ is in the form of prayer and studying His Word. Because of His faithfulness He will strengthen us as we invest that time into the relationship.
The relationship becomes strengthened even more when we are able to trust our Shepherd. It is always difficult to walk by faith, but it becomes a little easier when we not only have the head knowledge but also the heart knowledge that Christ died for us, and more importantly rose for us. He is the Shepherd that knows the mysteries of the universe and always has our best interest at heart. When we allow Him to lead our lives as a shepherd would lead his flock of sheep, then we are focusing on the relationship as Christ would have us do.
We could not ask for a better life than letting Jesus have the responsibility and all we have to do is follow the Good Shepherd where He leads.