The Mind of God—in His Living Word!
Many people I know are getting into the sheep business: My friends, my sibling, my church family. In raising sheep, one owner had this to say about his reason for raising sheep (and I paraphrase his words).
Sheep are much smaller than cattle, more docile, and less likely to run over top of someone.
Sheep will not trample my children, and sheep are much easier to raise than larger animals.
SHEEP.
Bible theologian Matthew Henry had this to say about sheep—“Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ.”
My friend from church posted a photo the other day, an up-close photo of a sheep, and in looking closely at that photo (which I saved to my phone), I was taken back by the close resemblance of the sheep to people. Stay with me for a moment.
In the photo, the sheep has trusting eyes.
In the photo, the sheep has a look of inquisitiveness.
In the photo, the sheep is standing, ready to flee, if needed.
In the photo, the sheep is staring directly into my eyes (it seems).
We may be totally familiar with Psalm 23, a passage often read at funerals, but are we comfortable in looking at this Scripture as a way to see ourselves?
The sheep has trusting eyes because the sheep totally trusts the one who leads him, who feeds him, who cares for him, and who will not lead him into danger.
“The LORD [HE] is my shepherd, . . .”
(Psalm 23: 1a NASB)
The sheep has a look of inquisitiveness.
“He guides me in the paths
of righteousness
For the sake of His name.”
(Psalm 23: 3b NASB)
The sheep is standing, ready to flee, if needed.
“I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23: 4b NASB)
The sheep is staring directly into my eyes (it seems).
“You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Certainly goodness and
faithfulness will follow me
all the days of my life.
And my dwelling will be in the
house of the LORD forever.”
(Psalm 23: 5b-6 NASB)
In reading the Bible, we have the Mind of God—in His Word!
In reading the Word of God, we have the Thoughts of God—given to us!
In reading the Holy Word, we have clarity to know the Path of God—prepared for us!
There are so many predators in this world: disease, sickness, danger, idol worship, sin, self-absorption, lack of faithfulness, indifference to the lost, lack of focus for our Father, lack of devotion for God our Father. In the life of a follower of Christ Jesus, God’s little lambs, His sheep—US—We can become so off track that we find ourselves facing the predators of this world in a way that seems all alone. Nevertheless, once we belong to God, we are never alone!
May we see and read this truth again—WE ARE NEVER ALONE ONCE WE BELONG TO GOD!
The predators in a sheep pasture look at the sheep and think only one word: Dinner.
Satan, our enemy, looks at God’s children and thinks only one word: Unfaithful.
We need to never forget that the devil is at war with God.
We must never forget that Satan can never have our soul once we have accepted Jesus as LORD, so the devil will do everything possible to hinder our faithful walk with God.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET! &
WE MUST ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE WILY WAYS OF SATAN!
WE MUST BE ALERT!
Thank You, God, for being our Shepherd.
Thank You, God, for guiding our paths.
Thank You, God, for walking with us through all the dangerous & dark valleys we face in life.
Thank You, God, for leading us as we go.
Thank You, God, for the sound of Your voice that we know.
Thank You, God, for comforting us with Your protection against the fiery darts of Satan.
Thank You, God, for anointing our heads with Your holy oil of Your Salvation.
Thank You, God, for preparing a place, a home in heaven, for us—Your children.
Thank You, God, for Your goodness & Your faithfulness.
Thank You, God, for never leaving us all alone as we walk through this life.
Thank You, God, for Your promise that we will dwell with You forevermore.
Thank You, God!
God, You are our Shepherd, right here, with us, daily, even this day!
Today, I end with the promise of God recorded by the prophet Isaiah.
Thank You, God, for sending us Your only Son, for Jesus Christ, our Savior & LORD!
“For as the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
And do not return there without
watering the earth
And making it produce and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower
and bread to the eater;
So will My Word be which
goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the
purpose for which I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55: 10-11 NASB)