We see this...
God sees this...
Well this morning, God let me see HIS side of the tapestry as He masterfully integrated the Advent Theme of PEACE with our Names of Jesus activity.
We were on the letter G today, so we looked at how Jesus is our GOOD SHEPHERD.
The girls made fun little sheep with paper plates, cotton circles, and construction paper.
We sang, "I just wanna be a sheep."
Then, we discussed how Jesus is our shepherd in our daily lives, seeing as how we aren't really sheep. We talked about how He takes care of us, protects us, provides for us, and makes sure we know where to go and what to do. He is there with us when we're scared. He helps us when we get hurt. And above all, He loves us so much more than we could ever imagine.
As the girls and I chatted, I couldn't help but think of Psalm 23.
I wonder if David knew his song would be a top 10 hit for thousands and thousands of years?!
When I read or hear Psalm 23, PEACE definitely comes to mind.
I picture the sheep following the shepherd to the greenest pastures, the clearest waters.
I see the shepherd carefully guiding the sheep through the valleys, holding up a light so they can see the path ahead and not get caught on any brambles or veer to close to the mountain's edge.
I envision the shepherd cleaning the sheep, checking their wool for burrs and gingerly removing any briars, pouring oil over their heads.
I imagine the shepherd counting the sheep as they come into the fold at night, making sure each and every one is accounted for, then lying down at the gate to ensure none will escape and also to prevent any wild beasts from stealing any of his precious flock.
I can feel the love the shepherd has for his sheep. And I can sense that the sheep have a deep trust in their shepherd.
I can't help but be filled with PEACE as I let the words play out in my heart.
Whether you have heard "The Lord is my shepherd" since you were born and roll your eyes at the familarity of the psalm or you are hearing these words for the first time today, I encourage you to really take time to read through David's song and let the reality of who Jesus is sink in.
The Lord is my SHEPHERD.
Jesus elaborated on this several times in John 10 alone,
"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep."
"I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me, just as My Father knows Me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep."
"I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate, Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
Interseting enough, we talked earlier this week about how Jesus is the DOOR. And here we see Jesus saying how He is the gate. Same thing. ONLY THROUGH JESUS can anyone get to the Father.
He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.
God is the master weaver is He not?
Back to Psalm 23 and the connections there in John 10. Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd and then goes on to say His purpose is to give all who come to Him, all His sheep, a rich and satisfying life. I think David did a pretty good job of describing that..."green pastures, clear waters, restores my soul, guides along right paths, anoints my head with oil..."
Go back and look at all the ways Jesus offers this "rich and satisfying life."
The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 Peter 1:3-5, "By His divine power, God has given us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life. We have received ALL of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires."
Um, WOW!!!!
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
Check out what Isaiah said about God's plan for His people!!!
GOOSEBUMPS!!!
He refreshes my soul.
Later, we see how Jesus provied the ULTIMATE restoration. Paul writes in Romans, "And since we have been made rigth in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was RESTORED by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship wtih God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God."
Holy moly!!! Friends of God....
He guides me along the right paths, for His name's sake.
We see so many times in Scripture how God leads us, if we choose to follow.
Psalm 25:8-10, "The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His commands."
Psalm 48:14, "For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and He will guide us to the end."
Should we not respond like David did, then, earlier back in Psalm 25, "Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You."
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
Jesus didn't promise life would be easy, but He DID assure us that He would NEVER leave us. He actually goes a step further, giving us this precious promise in John 16:33, "I have told you all this so that you may have PEACE in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
And no matter how dark the place we are in, we have the LIGHT of the world right there with us. Jesus reminded us of this in John 8:12, "I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life."
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Again, God never said life would be roses and rainbows. Here's another truth, we aren't the perfect little sheep either. WE go astray (all of us, each and every one). BUT, God doesn't let us wander off without trying to bring us back to Him. He loves us too much to let us head towards our own destruction.
The author of Hebrews reminds us of this, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."
Just as the shepherd would use the rod and staff to get the sheep back on the right path, keeping them from grave danger or even death, so too does God discipline us so that we can return to the way of life and enjoy all the blessings He has for us!!!!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Again, we aren't told that everyone will love us and accept us. Rather, Jesus promised that the world would HATE us. We will have enemies, but Jesus is right there with us. He Himself knows exactly what it feels like to be misunderstood, mistreated. He didn't fight back, but He did win. He took the beating, letting the whip rip His back to shreds, for by HIS wounds we are healed. He laid on the splintered wood, nails hammered through his wrists and ankles. He stayed up there on the cross, giving up His spirit, for by HIS death we are able to have eternal life!!!
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Just as a shepherd would care for his sheep and cleanse any wounds they had or remove any burrs from their wool at the end of the long day, so too does Jesus examine our hearts and minds. He cares for our SOULS. He blesses us in ways we never could have imagined even in our wildest dreams.
Paul encourages us in Ephesians 3:20, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, to HIM be the glory forever and ever!" Talk about a cup running over!!!
Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.
God knows every detail of our lives, before we are ever born. And He has the BEST plans and purposes for each and every one of us. He longs for us to spend all of our days with Him, enjoying His presence, being filled with His power and peace and joy and hope and strength and wisdom and love. Check out Psalm 139, another one of David's famous songs, to see what I am talking about!
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever.
Here's the kicker - we don't get to be with Jesus just during our time on earth. That is only the beginning, the VERY beginning! We may die physically, but our soul will be with God FOREVER. We are told that we will praise Him for ten thousand years and only have just begun! Imagine - being in the very presence of God!!! Now that right there is the epitomy of PEACE!
I told you God was the master weaver!
We may see knots and get frustrated with the seemingly tangled threads, but I promise you He is making something BEAUTIFUL.
TRUST Him.
He IS the Good Shepherd!
And since that's the case, I tell ya what, "I just wanna be a sheep!!!!"
No comments:
Post a Comment