The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"My Shepherd"
"We have a shepherd. We have a confession and a conviction of faith: the Lord is my shepherd, my good… great… chief shepherd."
Scripture affirms the Lord Jesus Christ as "the good shepherd… the great shepherd… the chief shepherd" (John 10:10; Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 5:4). These descriptors speaks to His character, His capability, and His singular place as our Lord. Believers in the Lord Jesus must know in principle who He is, what He can do, and how He alone serves as our primary master, guide, protector, and provider. To experience such grace, however, we must join David in making the matter personal…
"The Lord is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1; emphasis added).
Our Savior's desire to lead us must be accompanied by our desire to follow. For the born again believer in the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in us "both to will and to do of His good pleasure," thus constituting our innermost spiritual being as a glad follower of our Shepherd. "I delight in the law of God after the inward man" (Philippians 2:13; Romans 7:22). In our present existence, however, our flesh seeks to be its own shepherd. "The flesh lusteth against the spirit" (Galatians 5:17). We can still live as "as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). It is hard to imagine a sadder scenario, than for the flock of the most sublime Shepherd to live as if alone, as if unguided, unprotected, and unprovided for. As the Old Testament tragically declared of God's earthly people, the Jews: ""I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd" (II Chronicles 16:18).
Let such a thing never be said of us, as God's heavenly people, the church. Nor may it be said of us personally. We have a shepherd. We have a confession and a conviction of faith: "the Lord is my shepherd, my "good… great… chief shepherd." We do well to often thank Him for such a gift, and also to request that we are living in any manner of life as "scattered upon the mountains," He will work to return us to the fold. Indeed, let us make this a matter of the moment:
"Heavenly Father, search me and show me if I am walking in any manner as if the Lord Jesus is not my living, present, involved, and all providing Shepherd. Am I thinking about anything apart from realizing that I do not live this life alone? Am I forgetting the promise of my Shepherd that He will be with me always, to the degree that He literally dwells within the very center of my heart? Is there a problem, pain, or perplexity wherein I do not affirm that the greatest reality is my good, great, and chief Shepherd's "very present help in trouble?" (Psalm 46:1). Is there any blessing that I am failing to remember comes by way of my Shepherd's sacrifice and supply? Perhaps most of all, am I overlooking the greatest joy of Christ as my shepherd, that is, His joy in being all I need Him to be at all times, in all things, and forevermore? Search me indeed, Father, and lead me to walk in the fact of the fold, and the greater fact of the Shepherd of the fold. Yes Father, the Lord is my shepherd. In His blessed Name I pray, Amen."
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
(Psalm 23)
Weekly Memory Verse
He is thy Lord, and worship thou Him.
(Psalm 45:11)
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