PSALM 23:1–4 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
THEME OF THE DAY: UNDER THE GOOD SHEPHERD’s CARE. The safest place in all the world is under the watchful care of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus. The securest place in all the world is under the protective care of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus. And where are the depths of joy most experienced? Same place. Near the heart of the loving Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus.
What makes those truths about the Lord Jesus being our Good Shepherd so amazing and humbling is because of what we are – sheep, and sheep require a ton of watching over, providing for, and protection. The truth of sheep is captured well by the 18th century pastor named John Newton. He was known for his pastoral care of his congregation, deep devotional and prayer life, and as we know quite well, his hymns, particularly Amazing Grace. What we may not know is the ministry he had in letter writing. He personally ministered extensively by letter to the poet William Cowper and was God’s instrument of providing ongoing encouragement to a man suffering severe depression. Newton’s letters are in print and worthy reading by any Christian.
Newton wrote about being sheep in the Lord’s pasture. Ponder his insights which will fuel our worship and thankfulness for the Lord’s Shepherding care. He writes, “A sheep is a weak, defenseless, improvident creature; prone to wander, and if once astray, is seldom known to return of its own accord. A sheep has neither strength to fight with the wolf, nor speed to escape from him; nor has it the foresight of the ant, to provide its own sustenance. Such is our character, and our situation: unable to take care of ourselves, prone to wander from our resting place, exposed to enemies which we can neither withstand nor avoid, without resources in ourselves, and taught, by daily experience, the insufficiency of everything around us. Yet, if this Shepherd be our Shepherd, weak and helpless as we are, we may be of good courage. If we can say with David, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’, we may make the same inferences which he did, ‘Therefore I shall not want: therefore, I need not fear.’”
Under the Good Shepherd’s care. Praise His Name for willingly taking on that role, now and forever, to sheep He knew would need His constant watching over and caring for!
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for sending Your Son as my Savior and my Shepherd.”
QUOTE: “The safest place in all the world is under the watchful care of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim