His Sheep

Psalm 23 & John 10

It’s fun to take two passages and put them side by side to see how they complement each other. These two are old favorites. But I’m a little nervous about what I’ve done here, because in a way I’ve rewritten scripture. I’ve taken some of Jesus’ words, personalized them and slipped them into the Psalm. It reminds me, not only that Jesus is the Shepherd, but that He is the One who cares for me in all the circumstances described by the Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I recognize his voice and come to him.

He calls me by name and leads me beside peaceful streams.

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; I will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
He walks ahead of me, and I follow him because I know his voice.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

I come in through you and I am saved.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You sacrifice your life for me.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.
 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.

You give me a rich and satisfying life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

He chose me.

He saves me.

He knows my name.

He protects me.

He leads me through the wilderness.

He refreshes me.

No other god has done what He has.

I am a witness that He is God and there is no other.

What a blessing to be His sheep.

I'm Chosen

Isaiah 43

When I had breakfast with God, He told me a few things about His people, whom He loves.

He chose them to be His witnesses, to know Him, believe in Him and understand that He is the only God. 

He ransomed them, so they don’t need to be afraid. He is their savior. There is no other.

He called them by name, they are His.

He is with them in deep waters, rivers of difficulty, the fire of oppression.

But they got tired of Him and stopped worshipping Him. They burdened Him with their sins. In fact, they have been doing that from the beginning.

But He loves them, so He will blot out their sins for His own sake. He’s going to make a path through the wilderness for them and create rivers in a dry land to refresh them.

Then He reminded me that I have been grafted into the branch of Israel.

He chose me too.

I am His witness. He wants me to tell others the Good News about Him.

He chose me to know Him, believe in Him and understand that He’s the only God.

He’s my savior who ransomed me. He blotted out my sins on the cross.

He is with me in deep waters, in difficulty, and in oppression. No matter where I go or what happens to me, He is there.

He is my Way and He refreshes me with Living Water. I will dwell in His house forever.

I belong to Him and He knows my name.

Bread and Honey

Psalm 81

I wonder why God doesn’t get tired of me. I stubbornly follow my desires, even though I know they are not pleasing to Him and they don’t make me happy. I let so many things stop me from spending the time I need with Him. 

I didn’t sleep well and can’t concentrate in the morning.

I did sleep well, for once, and want to get things done while I still have the energy.

I’m in the middle of a good book and can’t wait to get back to it.

I think I’ll just take a quick look at Facebook and see what my friends are up to. Then I’d better get moving.

I could read my Bible at night, but there’s this TV show I want to watch.

God longs over His people. He wants to fill them with good things. He’s waiting to bless me and I’m too busy or self-centered or stubborn to come to Him for it. He longs for me to follow Him. But that’s not just a path He wants me to walk or even a lifestyle for me to follow. He wants more.

He wants to have breakfast with me. Instead of eating a quick bowl of cereal by myself, He wants me to come out by the pond where He has spread a tablecloth and set a couple of chairs where we can watch the egrets flying over the water. He’s brought out a china plate piled with warm rolls. Next to them are bowls of yellow butter and sweet honey. He wants me relax and enjoy the meal while we talk about my day. He wants to satisfy me.

I want that too.

Protect, Rescue & Restore

Psalm 14 

I almost used the word “idiot” in my last post. It’s a sensitive word in Eryn’s house because her three and five year old aren’t allowed to use it. They heard it in a movie and it stuck. I tend to use it on other drivers when they’re in the car and then I have to apologize. Eryn tells them that grownups can use words that kids can’t. 

Even bad drivers aren’t really idiots, but God says there are fools in the world. Fools are people who don’t believe in God. That makes sense to me. You have to be pretty dumb not to acknowledge that the world was made by someone or something.

But people that don’t believe in God are more than foolish. They are evil, corrupt and don’t do good. The Psalmist tells us that everyone turns away from God and no one does good. No one seeks Him. 

On the other hand, he says that God is with those who obey Him, so someone knows Him. He protects His people, so someone belongs to Him. In fact, God promises to restore His people. 

It looks like there is no hope for anyone. We’re all evil; none of us look for God. We don’t even know enough to pray – to ask Him to help us find Him.

But He has chosen a people who do obey Him. He protects, rescues and restores them.

I knew Him at a young age, so I don’t remember a time when I didn’t seek Him or pray to Him. But I know people who don’t. I have to ask God to choose them. They won’t go looking for Him on their own. 

God has to initiate before they can respond. I pray He will claim them and protect, rescue and restore them.

Protect them from the evil world they live in, and from their ignorance that it is evil. I pray He will protect them from wrong attitudes, bad choices, and things that will harm them and those they love.

Rescue them from the consequences of the evil they do. Since they don’t acknowledge God, they don’t recognize evil for what it is.

Restore them to a right relationship with Him and bring them into the safety of His love. 

Then I will shout for joy and we will rejoice together.