5 Practical Ways to Follow the Good Shepherd's Path

From time to time, I have found my wife searching on the internet for new recipes for our family dinner.  She always makes great meals, but she will sometimes look for something different to change things up.  I guess we all get into the habit of certain meal plans.  The meals she prepares are great; however, we often need to prepare different meals for a broader, more balanced diet.  This means she purposefully CHANGES the meal plan.

Some habits are not only good…some habits are essential (i.e. - eating, Bible reading, exercising, sleep, prayer, etc.…).  However, there are some habits that need to change from time to time. 

Good habits need to be changed up from time to time…this can make the habit even stronger.

Sheep are creatures of habit.  If left to themselves, they will walk the same path and graze the same land until it is desolate and no grass will grow there again!  A Shepherd must keep careful watch on the sheep and the land so that both are kept healthy.  When the land is no longer providing enough for the sheep — and the land itself cannot handle any more grazing — then the sheep must move on to another area to graze.  This new path is best for them and the land!*

It continues to be very interesting how the Lord has chosen sheep in Psalm 23 as a parallel to us as His children.  Sheep are so set in their ways, that unless they are led on to new paths, they will ruin the land.  We as God’s children are often very stiff-necked and stubborn people – desirous of staying right where we are spiritually.  It is vital we as God’s children follow our good shepherd wherever He may lead.*  To understand the need to follow the Shepherd, we must first understand:

Who We Are

Isaiah 53:6. The 5-year-old thinks he knows best when insisting for candy or several cookies right before dinner.  The teenager thinks he knows best when insisting to drive his buddies to a college friend’s summer party and wanting a curfew of 3 AM. The young adult thinks he knows best when insisting on speeding in a snowstorm to get to work on time.  We insist we know what is best for us even though the disastrous results may be self-evident.

Sometimes our reasoning goes something like this:

I believe it is best that I — sleep in and be late for work and skip my devotions … or keep a very full schedule and worry about finding time to fit God in later … or ignore my problems and hope they go away … or move away to solve my problems. 

The Good Shepherd is leading us … we need to willingly follow!

Who He Is

Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd comes gently and says 7 statements in the gospel of John to tell us who He is:

BREAD OF LIFE. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”  Jn. 6:35

 LIGHT OF THE WORLD. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jn. 8:12

THE DOOR. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Jn. 10:9

THE GOOD SHEPHERD. ”I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep….I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Jn. 10:11, 14

THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Jn. 11:25-26

THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE. “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.” Jn. 14:6

THE TRUE VINE. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” Jn. 15:1-2

I remember being a teen and at a church youth group activity.  Much to my disappointment, my ride needed to leave before the activity was completely over.  I knew I needed to leave, but I REALLY did not want to leave!  Instead, I drug my feet on the departure and made it pretty awkward for my ride.  This revealed my selfishness and refusal “to come” when asked.

The difficult point is that many believers do not want to “come.”  In other words, many do not want to follow.  Many do not want to be led in the paths of righteousness, because many think their way is better.  To put it bluntly, we don’t want to…

• Tithe…we believe our financial plan is better

• Get baptized…we think we are too old or it is not necessary

• Speak truth…we think deception is better than truth

• Submit our will to God…we think it’s depressing to not have our own will embraced

• Listen…we already have all the answers; no one can tell me what to do…I already know everything I need to know.

• Be approved of God…in truth, we want to be approved of mankind more than we want to be approved of God! 

As students of the Bible, we already know that each of these examples are Biblical commands or truths taught in scripture.  It is our selfishness and pride and reveals our refusal “to come” to Jesus.

What We Must Do

When the Klingler’s were going on an extended vacation, they asked their nine-year-old neighbor, Mike, about taking care of the family dog. They explained that the job would require feeding, watering, grooming, walking, and spending plenty of time playing with the dog while giving her lots of love. After covering the job description, they asked what the job would be worth to him. The little boy replied, “I’ll give you ten bucks.” (Source: Unknown. Ministry.org)

Jesus never made light of the cost involved in following Him.  In fact, He made it painfully clear that it was a rugged life of rigid self-denial!  (Luke 9:23)

So, here are 5 practical ways to follow the Shepherd’s Paths:

1.  Love God.  Instead of loving myself most, I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself. (Matt. 22:37-39)

2.  God-Focused. Fear God above all others. Instead of being one of the crowd, I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang. (Prov. 8:13; Eccl. 12:13)

3.  Others Minded. Instead of insisting on my rights, I am willing to forego them in favor of others. (Phil. 2:3)

4.  Servant’s Heart. Instead of being the boss, I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap (especially when I am the boss!). (Mk. 10:45)

5.  Thankful. Instead of finding fault with life and always asking “Why,” I am willing to accept every circumstance of life with an attitude of gratitude. (Ps. 107:1)

A man had a habit of grumbling at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would ask the blessing. One day after his usual combination complaint-prayer, his little girl asked, “Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?”

“Why, of course,” he replied. “He hears us every time we pray.”

She paused on this a moment, and asked, “Does He hear everything we say the rest of the time?”

“Yes, dear, every word,” he replied, encouraged that he had inspired his daughter to be curious about spiritual matters. However, his pride was quickly turned to humility at his daughter’s next question.

“Then, which does God believe?” (Source: Unknown. Ministry127.org)

 God calls us to be led by Him in the paths of righteousness.  Am I willing to follow?  Am I following while dragging my heals?  Or am I following Him with expectation and anticipation?

* Resource: A Shepherd’s Look at the 23rd Psalm, Phillip Keller

RESTORED: 3 Things the Good Shepherd Does in Restoring Your Soul

Our self-perceived needs are often based on our wants.  Think about it.  We can reason in our minds to say we “need” fancy athletic clothing with a big-name brand on it, access to all social media platforms, constant fast internet connections, $5 cups of coffee, and sharing our opinion on someone else’s preference (“I wouldn’t have done it that way”).  Yet, we can often be slow to reveal our spiritual needs.  We have no problem believing we need to share with others our opinions on politics, healthcare, leadership, and parenting skills…and we don’t care what others think of our opinion (because we believe our way is the only correct way!).  However, when it comes to revealing our spiritual needs, we are often unwilling or overly cautious in doing so.  As a result, we find great spiritual weakness in the church among of very unteachable, opinionated people who call themselves disciples of Jesus Christ!

In Psalm 23 it is the sheep that is speaking of the Good Shepherd.  It is the sheep that declares who his shepherd is and what that means to him. “The Lord is MY shepherd.” So, it is significant that the sheep acknowledges the need for his soul to be restored.  Does your soul need to be restored or revived?  What would that look like?

You and I can come to positions in life where we are in need of restoration, even with the Good Shepherd watching over us.  David, the author of this Psalm, is a good example of this very thing.  He was a man after God’s heart, but he also knew what it was to be cast down and dejected.  He had tasted defeat in his life and felt the frustration of having fallen under temptation.  David knew the feeling of hopelessness and without strength in his own person

Psalm 42:11; 57:1-2.

The Shepherd’s Restoration

The aim would be finding the “cast” sheep. This is the picture of sheep needing to be restored because the sheep has turned over on its back (a “cast” sheep). 

The problem is that this puts the sheep in an extremely dangerous position.  The sheep cannot get up on its own.  If the Shepherd doesn’t come to the sheep’s rescue soon, it will succumb to the elements or a predator.  A cast sheep is in need of intervention!

The prevention the shepherd will provide is to shear the “cast” sheep and keep their coats from getting too thick. A coat that is too thick is often the problem for many cast sheep.

God will often take the pointedness of His Word to cut off rough edges of our life and expose the blind spots.

The Caring Shepherd

the Shepherd’s Resolve 

Keep the sheep on their feet. Keep a watchful eye on the flock. Keep a good count — the shepherd will search for just one lost sheep.

the Shepherd’s Remedy

Turn the cast sheep back over on its feet.  The Shepherd will also need to massage the sheep’s feet/legs to enable the circulation to return.  This process is a slow, patient process for the Shepherd to undertake.

the Sheep’s Enemy: The Predator’s Attack

A predator knows that a cast sheep is easy prey and a meal is not far off when in this position.  The predator is waiting and watching.

A discouraged, cast down believer is easy prey for the attacks of Satan! One Pastor remembered shepherding days in regard to “cast” sheep.  He said, “All the time I worked on the cast sheep, I would talk to it gently, ‘When are you going to learn to stand on your own feet?’  ‘I’m so glad I found you in time – you rascal!’”

The conversation was a combination of tenderness and rebuke – of compassion and correction.  The sheep would regain their equilibrium and begin to walk steadily and surely.  By and by it would dash away to rejoin the others, set free from its fears and frustrations, given another chance to live a little longer.

What a picture of “He restoreth my soul!”  What about you?  Are you struggling…cannot seem to get back on your feet…needing spiritual restoration?  Only the Good Shepherd does the work of restoration.

3 Things the Good Shepherd does when restoring my soul:

1.     He calls me to draw close to Him. 

James 4:8; Psalm 34:10; 63:1; Jeremiah 29:13. God has already made the first move.  The Good Shepherd loved me first! The Good Shepherd continues to pursue me.  The Good Shepherd is also always ready to forgive me and shower me with His mercy when I ask Him.  So, the move that is needed to be made is mine to make!  The Good Shepherd is ready and waiting for the sheep to seek and find Him.  The barriers are of my own making.  Do not use the barriers as the excuse for failure.  Use the barriers as greater opportunities to depend on your loving Shepherd and form deeper relationship with Him.  Walk through the barriers -- by God’s grace -- and draw closer to the Good Shepherd!

2.     He directs my steps. 

Proverbs 3:5-7; 14:12; 16:9. We will stand in a position of humility and surrender when the Lord directs our steps.  We can choose to fight God’s direction and walk our own path – only to discover weeks, months, or even years later that our way was indeed wrong like God said.  We can also choose to surrender to follow God’s path, even if we don’t fully understand it, and discover how His pathway will bring genuine joy & peace...just as God said it would. 

Here’s the point and the warning wrapped up in one statement: we can choose our own way, but we cannot choose the consequences. The Shepherd is so genuinely GOOD that He wrote us all 66 letters by 40 different human authors over a period of 1500 years (the Bible) to reveal our need for gospel receiving, gospel living, and gospel investing ... and point His disciples to a path that does not remove hardship but overflows with joy & peace at the same time. 

And then the bigger point is this -- we can rebel against God or we can surrender to God, but regardless of what we chose, we will always come to realize three things:

1. God is always in control ... 2. God’s way and my own way are just as He described in the Bible ... and 3. God really does love me!

3.     He strengthens my resolve. 

The Lord has a way of deepening my Biblical convictions as He deepens my relationship with Him.  Deeper relationship brings deeper Bible convictions.... deeper Bible convictions strengthens my resolve to stand closer to the Good Shepherd.  The closer to the Good Shepherd we become will reveal to us the sweet place of protection from self, encouragement, evaluation, confession, repentance, holiness, and true love.  This is a great place of spiritual strength and resolve.  So, quickly, consider what is pursued to have a deeper relationship with Jesus:

•  …a faith in God that yields a teachable spirit...but this faith that is needed is small and a non-negotiable! (Psalm 119:66-faith/teachable; Matthew 17:20-baby steps are great; Hebrews 11:6-non-negotiable)

•  …a humble heart of confession and repentance (I John 1:9-confession; II Corinthians 7:1-holiness; James 5:16-confession)

•  …a spirit that is not prone to give up and that is persistent (Acts 17:11)

•  …a sharp focus on God’s character (Genesis 18:14a-power; Exodus 33:14-presence; Jeremiah 23:24-knowledge; John 1:14-truth)

•  …a dependence on God’s matchless grace (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11-salvation; Hebrews 4:16-prayer; II Corinthians 12:9-daily living)

Do whatever you can to deepen your relationship with the Good Shepherd, for it is the Good Shepherd that restores your soul!

THIRSTY: 4 Distractions from Pure Water

Have you ever been so thirsty that when you finally got to a source to drink you drank about three glasses in three breathes?  I can remember working as a college students outside during the summer months.  Throughout the day I would get so thirsty that I didn’t really care what I drank, just so long as I drank something now!  Sometimes I would drink something because it was the first available thing for me to drink -- and I would guzzle down a bunch of pop.  The problem was I was still thirsty when I was done drinking, but I was too full to drink anymore!  I drank from the wrong source… was not satisfied…but there was no more room to drink anymore!

It is absolutely necessary that the child of God quench his thirst with God!

1.     The Role of Water

A sheep is composed of about 70% of water on an average.  All this fluid is used to maintain normal body metabolism.  If dehydration begins to set in, serious damage can be sustained in the sheep’s body, and the sheep can become weak.  In other words, water is necessary for the proper function of the sheep.

The human soul has a capacity and need for the water of the Spirit of God.

If you travel to Greensburg, Kansas, you can pay a visit to what is billed as the “World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well.” Construction on the well began in the 1880s. As the railroads made their way across Kansas, a reliable source of water for the steam engines was essential. The work was done by teams of men using hand tools—shovels, picks, half barrels, pulleys, and rope. As they made their way downward, they lined the well shaft with limestone rock. The finished well is more than one hundred feet deep and more than thirty feet in diameter. It took enormous effort to reach the water, but it produced lasting results.

The Bible likens wise counsel to water in a deep well. Good advice is not just lying around on the surface—it takes work to find. There are plenty of people who have no idea what they are talking about but will be more than happy to give you a “piece of their mind.” And sadly, there will be plenty of people to give you advice that goes directly against the authority and commandments of Scripture. Anyone who wishes to be truly wise and reap the benefits of godly counsel is going to have to reject the simple approach and put forth effort—but the effort is worth it. (Source: Unknown, Ministry127)

 “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.”—Proverbs 20:5

2.     The Right Kind of Water

When sheep get thirsty they get restless and begin looking for water to drink.  If the Shepherd is not careful, they will drink out of any source they come across, and that opens them up to the possibility of all sorts of diseases and parasites.

So, not only do we need “water” spiritually, but we also need the right kind of water!  I, as the under shepherd of this church, make continual efforts to point the GRACE family to the right source to quench our thirst. 

Where is our thirst being quenched?  We can find ourselves quenching our thirst on things other than the pure source God intended for us.  Consider these 4 distractions from pure water:

1.     Money.

Whether it is a job, investments, savings accounts, a bonus, or an inheritance – money is needed to function in society, but it will not fully satisfy my thirst…no matter how much I obtain. Eccl. 5:10

2.     Substances.

Addiction to illegal or prescription drugs, cigarettes, drunkenness, popularity, immorality, and food – these are often embraced when one is thirsty.  The issue with drinking from the fountain of substances is that they not only leave you wanting more – but they also cause greater dependance on them to quench your thirst … instead of greater dependance on the pure water of the Word. II Cor. 1:3-4; Heb. 4:12

3.     Relationships.

Relationships ought to be blessings from God.  Relationships ought to be reflecting the person of Jesus with greater clarity.  However, when we replace the priority of Jesus with earthly relationships, we will find greater struggle over time. So, instead of drinking at the peaceful stream of the pure Word, we will eventually find ourselves drinking at the uncertain waterfalls in an unpredictable jungle.  II Cor. 1:3-4; Heb. 4:12

PLEASE NOTE: Replacing “the priority of Jesus with earthly relationships” does not show the fruit of struggle quickly.  It is a slower, methodical, downward pathway that reveals itself all too suddenly – leaving you wondering how you got here.

4.      Pride.

This distraction is harder to see at first.  We think we are standing up for our rights…and that we deserve to do so.  We think we have logically reasoned that God’s way of embracing the local church and His commands (i.e.- love God, love one another, give God 1st priority, be part of a local church, and do not lie – to name a few) is not for me…and that this is okay Biblically.  Or, other believers have offended me, so that gives me the right to run from God’s way.  Does it make sense to run from the unlimited God because a limited, sinful human being failed me?  Prov. 16:18-19

The story is told of an old man who was wandering in the desert looking for water. He approached an old shack and on the porch area he found a water pump. Next to the water pump he saw a one-gallon jug. A note on the jug said, “Use all the water to prime the pump.” The man’s instincts said to drink the water and not trust the pump. Nevertheless, he poured the water into the pump and began pumping until an abundance of cool water came to the top. (Source: Unknown, Ministry127.org)

The Bible is like the note on that water jug. Sometimes the instructions contained in the Bible do not make sense to us, but it is always right.

Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for the shall be filled (satisfied).”

When David wrote “He leadeth me beside the still waters” he was saying – He alone knows where the still, quiet, clean, pure water is to be found that alone can satisfy His sheep and keep them fit and strong.

 

3.  The Resting Place of Water

Sheep will get their water from: deep wells, springs or streams, and the dew on the grass. Heavy dew on the grass will sustain sheep each day (unless it is usually hot weather).  They will rise early in the morning (by habit) to feed on the grass with its heavy dew.

There is more than mere coincidence in this understanding for us as children of God in this picture.  Those who are confident in the Lord and able to cope with life’s complexities are those who rise early each day to feed on God’s Word.

Drink at the well that never runs dry…quench your thirst with the pure water of the HS & His Word! 

Know the delight of having your soul satisfied with God’s presence!

FREEDOM: 4 Obstacles that Block True Rest

Part 2 of 2

Text: Psalm 23

One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.

"I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did."

"But you didn't notice," said the winning woodsman, "that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest."  (Source Unknown)

Physical and spiritual rest sharpens our focus and abilities. It is vital that we learn to rest in the Lord!

Review from Part 1: Remember, sheep cannot rest with certain obstacles blocking their pathway. Last week we looked at the first two obstacles: freedom from fear and freedom from rivalries. This week we will begin this post with the third obstacle.

3.     Free of Pests

Freedom from the torment of parasites and insects is essential to the contentment of sheep.  Sheep, especially in the summer, can be driven to absolute distraction by nasal flies, bot flies, warble flies and ticks.  When tormented by these pests it is literally impossible for them to lie down and rest.  Instead, they are up and, on their feet, stamping their legs, shaking their heads, ready to rush off into the bush for relief from the pests.*

As a teenager going to a Christian summer camp in the south, I had to learn to deal with the gnats.  They were everywhere.  One day in the week the camp scheduled a lunch in the woods for fun…the fun was difficult to find with the constant cloud of gnats that surrounded us all!  Yawning, a big hearty laugh, or loud cheering were all guarantees of extra protein you would receive from the herd of gnats flying in your wide-open mouth!

A good shepherd will apply various types of insect repellents to his sheep.  He will see that they are dipped to clear their fleeces of ticks.  And he will see that there are shelters of trees and bush available where they can find refuge and release from their tormentors.*

There are bound to be many small irritations in our daily life!  Consider the common pests we face:

1.     There is the constant drain on our finances with unexpected bills – medical bills, car repairs, clothes for the kids, and a tool for work.

2.     There are the interpersonal relationships that are in a position of conflict.

3.     There are constant health concerns.

4.     There is the person at work, a friend, or a relative that never stops talking about one specific subject ... and you do not agree with their opinion.

On a side note: There are also things that Christians do that drive non-Christians crazy; like: a judging spirit, living hypocritical lives, and being pretty bad at friendship.**  It is often harder to see how others view us.  We sometimes think we are easy to get be around and it is only others who drive us crazy.  Well, the truth is, we can drive the unchurched world (and others in the pews) crazy, too!  Unfortunately, we can be pretty good at being pretty bad.

So, what is the antidote to “being so bugged!?”

The answer is found where it is always found – in God Himself.  We, the church of Christ, have the wonderful privilege of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit does the work of teaching and convicting our hearts.  So, we have four antidotes to pursue:

One: Look in the Mirror.  We need to ask the Lord to help us see our side of the wedge.  Sometimes we are so overcome by what we feel are our unwanted pests that we do not even consider we could be the “pest” for the one on the other side of the wedge!  Philippians 2:3. I Timothy 4:12.

Two: Change the Reflection. If we already know, or when we can see, our sinful choices, then we must confess them to God.  The first step to true change is confession of sin. Embrace humility and release the baggage that comes with sinful ways.  Romans 6:13; James 4:6-10.

Three: Blurred Vision. If we feel the presence of pests and are driven to distraction, we need to take time to evaluate our thankful spirit.  When was the last time we gave God thanks? Is our mind so overcome with thoughts of the “pests” that we can only speak of the pests?  Are we quick to give God thanks?  Psalm 100:4; 107:1; I Thessalonians 5:18

 Four: Focus. We cannot lose sight of our mission: disciples of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19. It is a grave mistake (that has eternal consequences) to allow “pests” to drive us mad and compromise our testimony for all the world to witness.  The salvation and spiritual growth of others is of greater eternal value than banging the “pests” into submission.  Also, the banging of our heads to remove the pests hurts our own persons more than the pest.  One more thing, the lost are acting like…the lost.  Are we (the church) living like a forgiven child of God indwelt & controlled by the Holy Spirit?

Often, a helpful approach is to simply state, “Lord, this is beyond me.  I cannot cope with it. It is bugging me.  I cannot rest…please take over!” 

With true dependence on the Lord comes true rest from the pests.  I am then able to lie down in green pastures – to rest – all because of what He does and who He is!

4.  Free from fear of hunger

Many great sheep countries of the world are dry, semi-arid areas.  Most breeds of sheep flourish best in this sort of terrain.  They are susceptible to fewer hazards of health or parasites where the climate is dry.  But in those same regions it is neither natural nor common to find green pastures. Palestine (where David wrote this Psalm and kept his father’s flocks) is a dry, brown, sun-burned wasteland (especially near Bethlehem). Green pastures did not come by chance in this region – it came by the owner’s choice of hard work and preparation of land to bring about green pastures. This requires lots of skill and hard work!  But the green pastures are essential to the success of the sheep.*

This is much the same picture as the Lord does in the fields of our lives as we move from sin into the transformed life of victory!  Look at the skills of the Good Shepherd in the fields of our lives as His sheep:

…He removes the rocks of stony unbelief

…He removes the destructive roots of bitterness

…He works to break the hard, proud heart like the shepherd does the hard sun-dried clay! 

…He then sows the seed of His Word

…He waters it with the presence of His Holy Spirit

…He continually cultivates the ground to bring about a beautiful green pasture! 

Our Good Shepherd brings us to such green pastures and demonstrates His desire to see our best interests served!  His care for me and for you is really beyond our comprehension!

We are all offered options, like lying or the truth, hard work or laziness, love or hate, and forgiveness or bitterness.  Sometimes, we find our way to logically reason that bad is good and good is bad.  In other words, we somehow logically reason in our minds that my way of sun-dried barren brown ground is somehow better than God’s green pastures. You see, the sheep cannot cultivate the green pastures like the Good Shepherd is constantly work to provide for His sheep.

Our Good Shepherd cares for His sheep!  Do not turn to the barren, brown, sun-dried clay the world offers as something “good,” lie in the green pastures the Lord has so wonderfully prepared for His sheep!  But to do that, you need to find God’s provided freedom from fear, rivalries, pests, and hunger.  So, run to Christ!

*Source: A Shepherd’s Look at the 23rd Psalm, by Phillip Keller

**Source: Carey Nieuwhof blog

FREEDOM: 4 Obstacles that Block True Rest

Part 1 of 2

Whenever I am away from my wife overnight, I have a hard time sleeping.  I just lie there, staring at the ceiling, wishing I would go to sleep.  If I were to travel more often, it would be vital that I learn to rest no matter where I am!  Since surgery, I have had to learn to deal with pain and sleeping during recovery.  Pain can definitely affect a person’s ability to rest!

Rest is so important for strong health, physically and spiritually!  For the believer, it is vital that we learn to rest in the Lord!

In Psalm 23:2 it says, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…”  This is an interesting phrase – and it is helpful to have a better understanding of sheep to fully comprehend this phrase from Psalm 23.

Consider some background about sheep:

It is almost impossible for sheep to lie down unless four requirements are met:

1.     First, they must be free from fear.

2.     Second, they must be free from friction with others of their kind

3.     Third, they must be free of pests (flies, parasites).

4.     Fourth, they must be free from hunger.

Unless all four requirements are fulfilled, they simply cannot rest!

What is interesting is that it is only the shepherd who can provide release from these anxieties.  It all depends upon the diligence of the owner, as to whether his flock is free of disturbing influences.  It is the shepherd who makes it possible for the sheep to lie down, to rest, to relax, to be content, quiet, and flourishing!  So, let us look at these four obstacles that block true rest.

1.     Freedom from Fear

In looking for freedom from fear we must understand that sheep are somewhat defenseless.

A shepherd tells the story of a friend coming over for a visit and happened to bring her small Pekingese dog.  The dog simply hopped out of the car upon arrival.  The shepherd's herd of 200 sheep, that had been lying in the nearby pasture peacefully, all jumped to their feet and ran to a far portion of the pasture.

Sheep have little or no means of self-defense.  They are helpless, timid, feeble creatures whose only recourse is to run. Countless shepherds could tell stories of how their herd had been attacked during the night by a wild animal.  One spoke of such an attack in his early years and so from then on, he slept with a rifle and flashlight by his bed.  What this one shepherd came to realize was that nothing so quieted and reassured the sheep as to see him in the field.  The presence of their master, owner, and protector put them at ease as nothing else could do!

There is no substitute for the keen awareness that the Good Shepherd is present!  So, before you run in self-defense to anger, or to self-pity, or to verbal/physical attack mode, or to seclusion – remind yourself of your ever present Good Shepherd.   

II Timothy 1:7 directs us to understanding what position the Lord has given us.  It is important to know that “a sound mind” has the idea of a mind at ease—or at peace—not perturbed or harassed or obsessed with fear and foreboding for the future. 

Hebrews 13:5, 8 reminds us that our Good Shepherd will never leave us…and He is always the same!

Proverbs 15:3 reveals that the Good Shepherd sees the good and the bad. 

Psalm 16:11 declares that the presence of our Good Shepherd is connected to the fulness of our joy and pleasures for evermore.

Exodus 33:14 triumphantly reassures us that our Good Shepherd’s presence will give rest.    

Living in the reality of the Good Shepherd’s presence will bring freedom from fear...and rest will follow!

2.     Free of Rivalries

Another thing I have come to understand about sheep is that there is an established order of dominance or status within the group of sheep.  With chickens it is referred to as “pecking order,” with cattle it is called “horning order,” and with sheep it is called, “butting order.” A sheep maintains their status of prominence in the herd by butting or driving other ewes or lambs away from the best grazing or favorite bedgrounds. However, whenever the owner (master) comes into view and his presence attracts their attention, the sheep quickly forget their foolish rivalries and stop their fighting!

We can often find ourselves choosing a battle that simply isn’t important enough to fight someone over.  At the beginning of the battle, we believe we have secured the moral high ground – that is why we “go to war” with another believer.  However, too many “righteous battles” are actually struggles for dominance and preferences.  Notice that the sheep fight over prominence. What calms the battle?  When the one who is chief among them (the shepherd) comes into view, all fighting ceases. 

True rest is not possible when battles rage among your relationships. 

Examine your battles.  Ask yourself these 4 key questions:

• In this conflict, does my spirit look like Jesus? 

  In other words, how I am handling this battle and how do I talk about it to others...do I look more like the fruit of the Spirit or the lusts of the flesh? Standing up for an important spiritual cause cannot be defended with fleshly means.  Spiritual battles with fleshly means will only cause greater problems, guilty conscience, misery, and failure.

• Would I continue my battle if Jesus were visibly present?

• What about my battles would I not want to answer to God for if I came face to face with Him today?

• In one sentence, what do I think this battle is about?

  Is the battle about core doctrine or opinions?  Is that something I need to stand my ground on?

 To sum up this hindrance to real rest, CHOOSE BATTLES that do not distract me from the mission God gave me, but instead they lift up God’s mission for me. FIGHT BATTLES in a way that does not damage my relationship with God.

To be able to truly rest in the Lord we too must be free from fear and rivalries (contention among ourselves).  Keep your MIND purposely tuned and your eyes sharply fixed on the Good Shepherd – the only One who can bring real rest!

SATISFIED: 2 Roots of Contentment

There are many things we will look to for satisfaction and contentment...and they aren’t necessarily evil things.

• A good day’s work

• A well-prepared meal

• Accomplishing a long sought after goal

• A nice car, house, or clothes

• A family that is at peace

• A job that is fulfilling and rewarding

We could list many other things, but the point is none of these things offer the satisfaction and contentment that we really desire! In fact, people will often think they have found the contentment they so long for in any number of things, but after a short period of time they are restless once again!  Where is the source of that true satisfaction and contentment that lasts? 

The hymn writer put it this way:

All my life long I had panted; for a draught, from some clear spring, That I hoped would quench the burning; of the thirst I felt within

Feeding on the husks around me, till my strength was almost gone. Longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on.

Poor I was, and sought for riches, something that would satisfy, But the dust I gathered round me, only mocked my soul’s sad cry.

Hallelujah! I have found Him! Whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings. Through His blood I now am saved.

 The hymn writer put it that way and the Psalmist puts it this way: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want!

The Scope of the Phrase

The phrase “I shall not want” is a very bold statement indeed!  We could read this passage with this understanding, “Since the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!”

What exactly is meant in saying, “I shall not want?” There is a much broader meaning than we would first imagine.  Yes, the main concept is that of not lacking in proper care or management. However, a second emphasis is the idea of being utterly contented in the Good Shepherd’s care and consequently not craving or desiring anything more.

I remember when our last child, Mark, no longer had a pacifier.  When he went to bed at night there is one thing that he found great security in: his soft green blanket.  No other blanket would do.  It had to be that blanket.  He didn’t look for another blanket; he didn’t want another blanket.  He wanted his green blanket.

It is the same with the one who sees the Lord as His shepherd – none other will do!  He looks for no other, and no other can replace His shepherd – when that shepherd is the Lord!

The History Behind the Phrase

Now consider David’s history, which gives significant context to this phrase, “I shall not want.”  This is really a strange statement for David to make, humanly speaking, if we think purely in physical and material needs.  Think about these historical facts…

• He had been hunted like an animal by Saul

• He had been hunted as well by his own son

• He had known intense deprivation and poverty

• He had experienced hardship and anguish of spirit 

Here is a key understanding: “lack of need.”  It is absurd to assert on the basis of this statement that the child of God, the sheep in the Shepherd’s care, will never experience lack of need. In fact, Job, Elijah, John the Baptist, and our Lord Himself all experienced great personal deprivation and adversity. The Lord Himself, while on this earth, said, “In this world ye shall have tribulation—but be of good cheer – I have overcome the world!”  (Jn. 16:33)

Here is another key understanding: The assertion that if a man or woman is prospering materially is a significant mark of the blessing of God upon their lives – is simply not certain.  It could be true (Job after his trial of faith) …or it could be false (the rich man of Luke 12 who needed to build bigger barns).

Revelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…”

Mark 10:21 – Jesus made clear to the rich young ruler who wished to become His follower as well, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor…and come…follow me.” 

In other words, based on the teachings of the Bible we can only conclude that David was not referring to material or physical poverty when he made the statement, “I shall not want.”

We need to take a good hard look at our lives and realize that the Lord may choose to entrust to us hardships (experiencing lack of wealth or material benefits), but we are to remember that this time is merely a brief interlude.  Yet in the midst of that hardship the believer can still say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” How is that possible?

The Significance of the Phrase

To grasp the significance of this simple statement, it is necessary to understand the difference between belonging to the good Shepherd or an imposter. It is the Good Shepherd who will care for you and meet your needs…but be careful to distinguish between what is comfortable and what is good for me…make certain to understand the difference between needs and wants, as well… and don’t forget the difference between unwanted pressure (but needed) and too much pressure. My needs and what is good for me — these are those that the Good Shepherd will keep in good supply!

Each year on the fourth of July the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Company sponsors a hot dog eating contest. In 2013 Joey Chestnut won the competition for the seventh year in a row, setting a new record by eating 69 hot dogs and buns in just ten minutes. The second runner up “only” managed to eat 51. According to news reports, Chestnut received a prize of $10,000 for his eating performance and consumed over 20,000 calories during his eating spree.

 Few of us are in danger of eating seventy hot dogs in one day, let alone nearly seven a minute for ten minutes straight. And yet we live in a world where “enough” is never enough. Many people devote their lives to acquiring wealth and possessions, living with a focus only on the temporal. As a result, rather than living in contentment, they live in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction. They struggle to get the latest and biggest and newest toys and rarely enjoy a moment of peace. (Source: Forbes.com, July 4, 2013)

2 ROOTS OF CONTENTMENT

1.     Relationship. 

Our connection with Jesus must be understood as more than mere religion or a connection with a perfect supernatural being.  There must be genuine relationship with God…and as with every relationship, we must “exercise” the relationship to keep it in good condition.

2.     Reflection.

Our mind is a major player on the journey to contentment.  The reason is: our mind fuels our hearts, and our hearts fuel our choices…and choices form our character.  The root is in the mind.  If we spend our time reflecting on lies, we will find ourselves horribly discontent!  Consider these 6 possible lies in our lives:

 …that sin isn’t that big of a deal

Jesus died for my sin.  It is a big deal.

 …everyone is doing it

Elijah had the same thought process.  God corrected Elijah and said he had 100’s of prophets still faithful to Him.

…this choice is who I am…deal with it

It is true that our flesh is natural; however, the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are commanded to be Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:18).  Spirit-filled looks like: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23).

…more money would make me happy

Money is needed to for daily living; however, the love of money is the root of all evil (I Tim. 6:10) and no where in scripture does it declare that if you want to be happy, get more money.  It does say, however, “the joy of the LORD is my strength,” (Neh. 8:10) and that it is God who fills us with joy and peace (Rom. 15:13).

…the Bible is out of date or incorrect

The Bible is God’s Word.  God is eternal.  Perfect.  For the Bible to be incorrect would mean God is incorrect.

…worshipping God with other believers in a local church setting is optional

The local church is God’s idea.  The New Testament is written to local churches.  God gave qualifications for church leadership (pastors and deacons) and instructions for church families.  God gave commands for us not to forsake the “assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:24) and with that assembling to stir each other up towards love and good works (Heb. 10:24).  To say church is optional, would mean to say whatever God says is optional (if I deem it so).

 The one who is able to say, “Since the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want,” has willingly placed himself under God’s care and he knows it!  He has entrusted himself to Christ’s control and found contentment!

the Shepherd & His sheep: 5 Key Questions about your Shepherd

Brad never lacked for anything growing up.  If he wanted it, his father would buy it for him.  His father loved him, but his father also required he work a job in high school.  Brad heard more than once, “It builds character.”   

Brad had an attitude problem.  He thought he knew best…at least better than his 49-year-old father.  After all, he was 17! So, when Brad turned 18 he no longer hid his feelings.  He rebelled in bold fashion and told his father he couldn’t tell him what to do any more.  Brad, much like the prodigal son, explored the ways of the world.  He tried…EVERYTHING.  He eventually found the love of his life.  They got married and he settled down.  After a couple of years, Brad became a father himself.  That first moment he held that new baby in his arms he felt excitement, pride, fear, joy, and anxiety all at the same time.  He was suddenly horrified and humbled as to how he had treated his father…he wanted to return home…but he struggled with whether or not his father would welcome him in his home.   

Brad finally decided to visit his father … with his wife and child.  Much to his surprise, Brad’s father greeted him with tears of joy.  He told Brad that he had prayed for this day since the day he left home. 

We must live with the recognition that we belong to the Lord…my loving, protecting, calming Shepherd! 

How is it the Lord is MY Shepherd? 

John 10: 11, 14 -- As the Good Shepherd, two phrases come to mind: 

• PURE SACRIFICE - the LORD laid down His life for His sheep 

• CHILD-LIKE TRUST: the sheep know the voice of the Shepherd…and follow Him. 

The Bible reminds us — We are all like sheep.  

Sheep tend to wander. Isaiah 53:6 – When sheep wander, they are prone to drown, fall off cliffs, and succumb to their dangerous enemies. 

We tend to wander as well (Hebrews 2:1)! To be clear, when we wander, we are rebelling against the Lord’s commands…we are wandering away from a relationship with the Shepherd.  As a result, we attempt to face our enemies on our own.   

Sheep don’t tend to last long when away from the protective care of their shepherd.  Does not this give us a fresh view of Proverbs 14:12? 

Sheep tend towards fear and confusion.  They are even known to follow one another off a cliff…blindly following each other.  Sound familiar?  Our default setting is often set on fear & confusion follows!  Think about it:  the unexpected bill…our introduction to COVID…lots of change in society…our adult child’s choices…insecurity at work…etc.  We, like sheep, tend toward fear. 

Because of these tendencies, a shepherd needed to be prepared to lay down his life for the sheep.  The shepherd would have to battle wild animals. David demonstrated this very reality in I Samuel 17:34-35. 

Do you see how humbling it is for scripture to compare humanity to sheep?  Do you see how amazing it is that the LORD is our Shepherd?!! 

With all of this, meditate on our Shepherd… 

His POSITION: Creator/Protector

My Shepherd is able to protect me.  It is He who brought me into being and no one is better able to understand or care for me. 

When a child is sick, he usually wants Mommy to take care of him.  No one cares for him like Mommy! Who could better care for/protect/understand me than my heavenly Father, the Creator! Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:3. 

His Choice: Redeemer 

My Shepherd laid down His life for me.  He has bought me back at the incredible price of His own life and shed blood. This is genuine, unfiltered love.  

In a company, if a man owns 75% of the stock of the company he has more say in the company.  It is his right because He has made the most investment financially!  Our Lord has not only earned such a position as our shepherd – it is His right to be our shepherd as He so chooses!  We belong to Him.

His Interest: Sustainer

He literally lays Himself out for us continually. 

• Interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27, 34) 

• Guiding us by His Spirit (Isaiah 58:11; John 16:13)  

• Working on our behalf to ensure that we will benefit from His care  

• Ps. 23:2-6---the entire poem goes on to recount the manner in which our Good Shepherd spares no pains for the welfare of His sheep… 

v. 2-He is my contentment and rest 

v. 3-He is my pathfinder 

v. 4-He is my protection and guide 

v. 5-He is my provision 

v.6-He is all this all my days and forever more! 

 Recognize the position we have in Christ as believers!  Our shepherd is THE Good Shepherd!  Consider the scene of a shepherd who should never have been allowed to tend to sheep.  His flock is always thin, weak, and riddled with disease.  Then consider another shepherd who cared for his flock in the next pasture.  This shepherd guarded his flock from disease and fed them well.  Their pasture was green and lush!  Imagine how the first flock described, if they could talk, would come over to the fence and say, “Oh, to be free from this awful owner!”  This is the picture of people throughout the world who have not known what it is to belong to the Good Shepherd…and then they suffer instead under sin and Satan. 

Sometimes those whose shepherd is the Lord, take such grand care for granted! 

5 Key Questions about Your Shepherd: 

1. Do you belong to Him? 

2. Do you really recognize His right to you?

3. Do you respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership? 

4. Do you find complete rest and freedom in a relationship with the Good Shepherd? 

5. Do you sense purpose and deep contentment because you are under His direction?  

If so, then you too can proclaim along with David, “The Lord is My Shepherd!”  If your answer is no, then I urge you to reevaluate your relationship with the Good Shepherd! My own way, or the way of reason, does not lead to the root of joy or peace.  Only Jesus is pure joy and true peace.  Are you struggling with relationships?  Are you struggling with anger or discontentment?  Are you struggling with unresolved conflicts?  Are you struggling with enjoying the life you are living?   

The struggle is not automatically removed, but the solution is always found in Jesus! So, run to Christ. 

7 Descriptions of the GREAT SHEPHERD

The scene is an outside basketball court at the neighborhood park. A group of teenagers are gathering to play a game of pickup basketball. Two captains are chosen and to begin choosing their teams from the group of boys who made their way to the park the first name that is called is James. The other team captain immediately says, “that’s not fair.”  Everyone on the court is now hoping that the first captain chooses them… Everyone wants to be on James’ team.

Why? If James were like every other teenage boy on the court, it would not have been that big of a deal. If James were like me or you, no one would have been begging to be on our team. But what if “James” was just a last name?  You see, in high school, when my friends and I would play a sport we would call each other by our last name. It would sound like, “hey Holloway over here!” Or, “hey Holloway shot it!”  So, what if Jimmy was the name all the guys in the neighborhood called Lebron. And what if Lebron grew up to be known as Lebron James, basketball star of the decade? 

You see, everyone wants to be on Lebron James team because they know who Lebron James is… They know how strong his basketball abilities are… They know he can pretty much outplay anyone on the court. His high school friends knew they would win the game with “James” on their team!

So, we need to ask ourselves a question, “what keeps us from having the same kind of confidence and rest in Jesus?”

We must willingly turn to trust the great Shepherd!

“The LORD is my shepherd”

David wrote this Psalm from the perspective of having been a shepherd himself.… from the perspective of the care of a shepherd… from the prespective of the watchful eye of a shepherd. Consider David’s life for just a moment…

• David was a shepherd.  He was the son of a shepherd as well.  He would later be called the “Shepherd King.”

•  What unique and grand things do we know about David?

-A warrior

-Defeated Goliath

-He became King of Israel

-He was called a man after God’s own heart

-He was a musician

-He was broken over his sin with Bathsheba once confronted

-He was brave (shepherds have to be)

• What negative things do we know about David?

  -He was a murderer

  -He was an adulterer

  -He tried to hide his sin for a time (getting Bathsheba’s husband to spend the night with his wife during battle)

When I went to college and had to eat college food for the first time – nothing compared to my mom’s cooking.  I came home skinny and mom spent the whole Christmas vacation trying to fatten my up for another semester!

I knew my mom’s cooking…I longed for my mom’s cooking…nothing else would suffice!  The more we know our Savior and who He truly is – nothing else will do!

 Deuteronomy 4:39 -- There is none else — nothing comes close to comparison!

 7 descriptions of the GREAT SHEPHERD!  

                        Romans 2:2 – He is justice

                        Isaiah 6:3 – He is Holy

                        Hebrews 6:18 – He is truth

                        Psalm 103:17 – He is mercy

                        Romans 5:1, 2 – He is grace

                        Romans 8:28 – He is sovereign

                        I Corinthians 8:6 – He alone is God! 

I can remember going through a math and science class during my fifth-grade year of elementary school.  They were very hard and I was frustrated!  I couldn’t comprehend how to figure out the assignments.  I was literally to the point of tears.  I didn’t understand it…I didn’t want to understand it…I just wanted it all to go away.  However, the classes didn’t go away -- and I eventually started seeing what I couldn’t see before. My teacher knew what I need it to further prepare me for college and continued to press me to complete the course. That pathway of resistance eventually bore the fruit of greater strength.

• When do you and I truly start seeing our great Shepherd for who He is…during and/or after trials.

• When are we prone to lose sight of who our great Shepherd truly is?…during comfortable times.

How should we then view those difficult days?  With those classes I thought my teacher had it in for me…that she or he was laughing with delight at home thinking of how miserable we all were in trying to do the homework.  In reality, the teacher was at home praying and hoping we would all understand the problems and get an A!

Your hard times do not mean Jesus has forgotten you! Your hard times do not mean Jesus doesn’t love you or that he is not helping you! Sometimes the great, good Shepherd allows difficulty to accomplish something even better in our lives.

“remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there.”

Charles Spurgeon

The Lord doesn’t delight in my struggle, but the struggle is necessary to build spiritual muscle and character to be useable in the master’s hand!  The Shepherd wants to use you!  The Lord wanted to use Jonah.  He wanted to use David, and He wants to use you!  Turn to the great Shepherd and trust His incomparable care for you!

Purposeful Victory: 5 Guards Against Spiritual Wandering

Have you ever talked with someone with divided attention?  Frustrating, right?  You are in mid-sentence and they engage someone else in conversation.  Although not purposeful, I know I have done this to others.  I am sure most of us have done this at some point and time.  You see, there is so much going on around us, that we are easily distracted from the task at hand.  To combat this, we would need to be purposeful. 

We can do the same thing with our relationship with the Lord!  There is much around us … much that is appealing … much that seems harmless and catches our eye.  However, it is harmful when it gets us off mission.  When something or someone gets us off the God-given mission of our calling, the mission of our marriage, the mission of our family, the mission of pursuing unity, or the mission of bringing glory to God, the mission of the gospel – IT IS HARMFUL!

We must keep our eyes -- our heart and mind -- on the mission.

Purposely Impossible (Judges 7:3-12)

• Go home if you want (22,000 leave & 10,000 stay…v. 3)

• Drink like a dog and go home (9,700 sent home…v. 6)

• Left with 300… against unnumbered multitudes (sands of the sea – v. 12)

• Numbers diminished to guard against pride (v. 2b)

Purposely Encouraged (in a dream) (Judges 7:9-10, 13)

Take a moment to read the Bible verses above. Did you notice the first thing Gideon did after God allowed him to hear the dream? He worshipped. The man who struggled with doubt and with the illogical being presented as logical — stopped what he was doing and worshipped God. Gideon was so encouraged by God’s encouragement that he worshipped the Lord God of Israel.

Purposely Ran (God fought for them) (Judges 7:19-22a)

Purposely Turned Away (Judges 8:33-35)

They forgot God after Gideon’s death – and worshipped false gods again. This incredible story of victory does not have a happy ending! After the greatest victories, we will often have great defeat because we became distracted from the mission.

Marla Runyan gave her all to qualify for the Olympic Games in 1996, but her best time finished short of the mark to make the United States team. Undeterred by that failure, she returned in 2000 and made the team for the Sydney Olympics. Her eighth-place finish in the 1,500-meter race was the best finish ever for a United States woman runner. The thing that makes Runyan’s accomplishments even more remarkable is that she is legally blind. She is the first legally blind athlete to ever qualify for and compete in the Olympic Games. After her Olympic career was over, she switched to running marathons and in 2002 posted the second fastest debut marathon time ever by an American woman.

Runyan can only see shapes and blurs, but she says that her lack of vision is actually an asset—she just focuses on the finish line in front of her rather than looking around to see what the other runners are doing. Not having visual distractions helps her compete and win her races. The same thing can be true in our lives. There will always be things that try to pull us away from what we should be focused on doing. Many times these will be good things, but we must be willing to set them aside and stay focused on what is most important.  (Source: USA Track and Field)

5 Guards against spiritual distractions…

1-Reveal your weaknesses (Ask God - Ps. 139:23-24… Be honest with God – Prov. 28:13)

2-Remind yourself of the finish line every day (devotions – Ps. 119:11; Phil. 3:14; II Tim. 2:15)

3-Rehearse your training regimen regularly (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2; 119:105 – Bible memory)

4-Rely on your coach (God’s grace: it’s how you started-Eph. 2:8; it’s how you continue – Rom. 5:1-2; it’s how you improve/prayer – Heb. 4:16 ; it’s all you need – II Cor. 12:9)

5-Remember your coach is watching (live in the reality of God’s presence-Prov. 15:3; Ex. 33:14)

The writer of Hebrews said, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2). No matter what is going on around us, Jesus never changes. As long as we focus on Him, we will stay on course. 

The Gospel Life: What does gospel living look like?

What does your everyday life look like? Sleep, food, work, family, church, community, and leisure time is what fills the average person's week...but what kind of impact are you making on this world as a Christian? Afterall, the impact the church will have on the world has impact that will last forever!

Jesus believing, Bible preaching, God loving people must live the GOSPEL LIFE. This begins with…

GOSPEL RECEIVING.

Acts 9:1-7. Acts 9 relates the true account of Saul’s conversion. He was bold, antagonistic, oppressive…and then cam Jesus. everything changed when he met Jesus! Do you remember the day you came to Jesus? Share your gospel story with someone. Relive the day you embraced God's saving grace -- and never loose sight of that day again.

You don't have a personal gospel story yet? Discover YOUR gospel story. Click Here.

Romans 10:9-10, 13.

When you come to Jesus...everything changes!

·       Your sin changes from unforgiven to forgiven!

·       Your future changes from hopeless to amazing!

·       Your “here and now” changes from selfishness to God focused and Others Minded!

·       Your hate and bitterness changes to love and forgiveness

·       Your helplessness changes to the promises of God.

GOSPEL LIVING.

Col. 1:9-12; I Pet. 1:15; 2:21.

Gospel living flows out of gospel receiving. The gospel is God’s holiness & justice, God’s love & mercy, and God’s forgiveness.

Believer — gospel living looks like the gospel!

The gospel life isn’t mere fire insurance. It is transformational for the present AND total perfection for the future. However, sometimes in our imperfect condition, our living doesn’t look like the gospel. Sometimes, our living looks more like selfishness, fearful, proud, and/or contentious.

Has the Lord revealed the need of gospel living in your life recently? What has God taught you recently that has drawn you back to a strong gospel living?

I pray we can move forward together with gospel living:

1.     Love for God

2.     Love for others

3.     Mercy for others

4.     Striving for unity and not nurturing discord or discontent

5.     All to the glory of God!

...without gospel living, we will never live the reality of gospel investing.

Gospel Investing.

John 1:29-30; Acts 9:27; Matthew 28:19

• Gospel investing is the only investment that yields unending gains!

• Gospel investing is made with gospel living deposits.

• You cannot invest the gospel effectively without living the gospel by God's grace.

May we all embrace gospel life living.