Psalm 23 says that the Lord is my shepherd. He is a good shepherd, John 10:11 and 14 say. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what my Good Shepherd is really like.
When He leads me, I do not want. I lack no good thing (Ps. 84:11). Think of what that means! See also Matthew 6:25-33 and Phil. 4:6-7, 19.
When He leads me, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.” As I meditate on each of these truths, I see that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Praise God, Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
All of these benefits are provided for me because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS mercy he saved us…” Sometime, take a peek at the meanings of the word “saved” in that verse! “…by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed abundantly [overflowing!] through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7). Wow! As Psalm 23:3 says, “he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.”
But when I take the lead, things aren’t so pretty. “Yea, though *I* walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” Sometimes I choose to walk in disobedience. My paths always lead to death. Even then, however, “I will fear no evil.” Why? “For thou art WITH me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Again, Hebrews says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (13:5).
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Phil. 1:6). What a comfort!
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Cor. 1:20).
Praise God from whom all blessings flow….
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