THE REAL SHEPHERD

By:  P. Tan-chi

The sheep is the most defenseless of all animals. Left untended, it cannot fend for itself. It lacks the ability to source food and water. Easily attracted by surrounding sights, it is prone to wander off and fall into crannies. In many respects, we are so much like sheep.

Psalm 23 is a striking, poignant metaphor of what a shepherd does for his sheep. In our helpless state, the Lord has come to be our Good Shepherd. He takes care of us as our Good Shepherd when we have a personal relationship with Him.

The Lord provides. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (v. 1). It is the shepherd's job to look for food and water for the sheep.

The Lord is Jehovah Jireh who makes sure we are provided with all our needs. For anyone who has the Lord to shepherd him, no good thing shall he lack, for the Lord provides. If earthly fathers know how to give good things to their children, how much more our Father in heaven who owns everything and cares so much for us to withhold what we need.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures” (v. 2a). The shepherd looks for ideal pasture land that the sheep may graze on it. After a satisfying meal, the sheep lies down to rest on a bed of fresh, green grass.

We are where we are because God put us there. But we need to have the readiness to leave and go elsewhere as the Lord deems fit. If we think we're comfortable and contented where we are now, the Lord may have greener pastures for us. So where He leads, we must follow, otherwise we will be missing out on God's best. God knows what's best for us and will take care of every detail of our lives.

The Lord guides. “He leads me beside quiet waters” (v. 2b). The shepherd guides the sheep to a calm pool of water for a refreshing drink.

Taking time out of our busy schedule to be alone with God will give us the refreshment we need. He brings us to a place of stillness so we may see His face and drink from His life-giving Word.

“He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake” (v. 3). Because of the stupid, stubborn nature of the sheep, shepherds sometimes resort to breaking the legs of the sheep to keep it from repeatedly going astray. Yet the shepherd also binds up the broken leg and nurses the sheep until it is completely healed.

Our Shepherd does not only take care of our physical needs; He is also after our spiritual welfare. The Lord accepts us “as is, where is.” However, He will not allow us to remain the way we are. God is in the business of restoration. When we fall, He picks us up. When we get dirty, He washes us clean. His forgiveness is available to those who humble themselves.

The Lord's holy name shall be honored. He will deal with our stubbornness through His discipline as a father who does not spare the rod so as not to spoil the child. “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines” (Hebrews 12:5-6).

God will bring about that situation where we are in a position of moral uprightness and right living. We have God's Word from which to derive the wisdom we lack to straighten our path. In guiding us, He sometimes takes away all earthly support so we may learn to depend on Him and consequently prove His sufficiency.

The Lord protects. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me” (v.4). God may sometimes allow us to go through valleys where there is darkness and dryness, so that we may learn to appreciate the better things He has for us in the uplands, where there's fresher, greener grass. The valleys lead us to mountaintop experiences — the better to taste Him more intimately, and for us to realize that He alone can revive and satisfy.

“Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows” (v. 5). As a shepherd applies oil on the sheep as pest repellant; our protective Shepherd also shields us from all danger and evil. With God on our side, our foes are put to shame. We have nothing to fear, for God is our security.

“Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v.6). The Lord relentlessly pursues us, not as a policeman would to issue a ticket for a violation, but because He bears gifts for us. He promised to be with us to bless us and preserve us all the days of our life.

To whom, then, do we go for our needs? When in trouble, to whom do we run? Have we entrusted our lives to the care of the Good Shepherd?

We'll never go wrong when we turn to our Good Shepherd who will never fail us. The sheep hears the shepherd's voice and follows. Are we listening to the Shepherd's voice and following where He leads?

Take the following self-check to determine whether you are a sheep following the Good Shepherd: 1) The ear test: Do you listen to the Shepherd's voice? And 2) the foot test: Do you follow the Shepherd's voice?

PRESERVING THE EARTH

By:  D. Delay

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” (Matthew 5:13)

You and I, as Christians, are called the salt of the earth because our lives enhance and give meaning to this existence we call life. Before salvation, we were like grains of sand, too numerous to count. But after receiving Christ, we were transformed – no longer like minuscule debris of rock having little or no difference from another lost piece of sand, to something distinctive in taste, texture, and aroma.

It may be an odd analogy, but Jesus compared believers to salt for a reason. Salt is a dietary mineral, used for flavoring and preservation – needed by all known living creatures. If abused, it can be harmful. However, it is also detrimental to have no salt intake because it regulates the water content in our bodies. Jesus used salt to describe how Christians are needed to bring balance and hope to an otherwise dying world.

The question He asked however is, “What good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” In other words, if a Christian has lost his or her gusto and fervor, then what’s the difference between the old grain of sand they once were and the so-called salt they are now? The answer is: very little.

Because of recent circumstances in my life, I pondered this scripture differently than I have before. Trials can cause us to become weary if we’re not careful. And just like salt can become diluted in water, Christians can become diluted (or altered) by their experiences. For example, what we believed before a traumatic event is sometimes not the same as afterwards. Why is that? There could be many reasons, but the most common is depression, fatigue, self-doubt, and ultimately reservations about what we believed in to begin with. And we have to clearly understand there is an enemy at work in these cases. If we are the salt of the earth and it’s possible to lose our flavoring, then it’s no secret the Devil will do his best to make sure our effectiveness (our flavoring) isn’t what it used to be. And if he had his way in every case, we’d have no flavoring left at all – returning to transparent grains of sand with no threat to him or his kingdom.

Jesus said, “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)

Consider this: the sea is full of salt but it is only extracted through the process of boiling (removing the water to retain the salt). I don’t like the idea of going through fiery trials, but if that’s what it takes to recapture the “salt” in my life, than maybe I’m okay with that. What I’ve learned is that God is not the destroyer in this life. He said the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). God is not the thief. God is the “Restorer” of broken lives and broken hearts.

The boiling process will either prove or disprove the amount of salt contained in a substance. In the same way, the trials of life will either prove our lives are flavored by God or they will reveal how much we truly lack. Either way, if handled correctly, the end result can be beneficial. For the one, their revelation of Jesus Christ and His grace and faithfulness will increase; for the other, a realization of their small faith can push them to a deeper relationship with God because despite their lack, He remains faithful. The only problem is: God has left the “salt containers” (you and I) to decide.

“So dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ [and what He went through], so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

I have learned I can’t always control the trials I face, but I am the keeper of my “salt.” Will I be bitter or better? Less seasoned or more flavorful? Will I disappear into the background or stand out as an overcomer? Because in the end, what good am I if I’ve lost my flavoring? |

KNOWING WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE

By:  K. Hee

The Bible says, “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18). But as we grow closer to God by reading the Bible every day, we can learn to recognize what God looks like.

 

Take, for example, the story of a successful rancher in the 1800s named Ben, who realized he was very lonely. So he put an ad in the newspaper that said, “Wanted: A good woman willing to be a pen pal. Marriage is a possibility.”

He soon started receiving letters from a girl named Molly. Through their letter writings, they fell in love. So Molly decided to take a train to meet him for the very first time. The train pulled in and hundreds of young ladies came out. Finally, Molly stepped out and Ben went right up to her and said, “Molly, it’s me, Ben.”

Molly looked at him in disbelief. “How did you know it was me?” she asked. “You’ve never even seen my picture.”

“I knew from the letters,” he said. “I’ve read them so many times that I had a picture in my head of what you looked like. When you stepped off the train, I knew it was you!”

Jesus tells us, “(I) am known by my own” (John 10:13). If you love the Word of God and take the time to familiarize yourself with it, God will open the eyes of your heart to Who He really is!

Prayer for the day:

Ask God to open your eyes to Who He is as you read His Word, so that you may know Him personally and intimately.

TIME TO MAKE A DECISION

By:  J. Maxwell

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." Numbers 20:12

We learn something invaluable about leadership at the expense of Moses in Numbers 20. By this point, Moses felt weary of the complaining, the stagnation, and the lack of progress among the people. He was running on empty. And in his weakened condition he made a decision that cost him his future.

Directed by God to speak to a rock in order to get water for the nation, in anger Moses struck the rock. He reacted in fury rather than obeying with poise, and for his disobedience he was barred from entering the Promised Land.

This sad incident teaches us at least two lessons. First, never make a major decision during an emotionally low time. Second, choose to be proactive, not reactive, in your leadership. Don't let your mandate come from the grumblings of the crowd. Get your cues from God and the mission He has given you. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I a reactor or a creator when I lead?
2. Do I play defense or offense when I lead?
3. Am I a people-pleaser or a God-pleaser when I lead?
4. Do I boss my calendar, or does someone else choose where I give my time?

HOLD ON TILL THE END

By:  TFC

“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Roman 8: 28).

The Bible tells us that in the land of Uz there lived a man called Job who was both morally and spiritually upright. So pleasing was he that even God boasted about him to Satan saying “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright; a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). But Job’s upright character did not exempt him from the trials and tribulations that were later to befall him. Not only did he lose all his possessions, and all his children, Satan also afflicted his body with painful sores from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. So bad was Job’s condition that his wife suggested that he curse God and die (Job 2:9).

Friend, trials and tribulations will come to all, no one, absolutely no one, is exempt. Contrary to what a lot of people think, trials and tribulations are not necessarily a sign of disobedience or rebellion against God. Remember that Job was “blameless and upright, feared God and shunned evil”, yet he suffered great tribulation.

But the good news is that children of God do not go through trials alone. The Lord goes through them with us because He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5) and that even when we go through the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with us (Psalm 23:4). Further, we know that the trials we go through will not last always because the Word of God tells us that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Friend, Satan’s plan is that these trials would cause us such pain and misery that we would give up and turn away from God just as Job’s wife had urged him to do. But the Word of God encourages us to hold on and not to give up. The Book of James tells us that “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Job held on and “the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). In the end, God will work things out for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Remember, if you hang on with God, you can be sure that the end will be good.

Prayer:

Lord, we are privileged to know you, to belong to you and to be countered as your children. Thank you for your promises towards us. Thank you specifically for your promise to never leave us nor forsake us. Thank you for the confidence in knowing that whatever we may go through in life, you are there with us and will see us through. Help us to hold on till the end so we can wear the crown of life. In Jesus precious Name we pray. Amen.