How It Is We Are To Be & What We Are To Pursue
“The LORD is my shepherd,
(The Psalms 23: 1-3 NASB)
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.”
Normally, when we read the 23rd Psalms, we read it completely, not pausing until we reach the end of the sixth verse. However, today—
On this the LORD’S day!
The day we will congregate together in the LORD’S house!
- To pray together to God!
- To study His Word!
- To sing hymns to Him!
- To raise our hands in honor of Him! &
- To worship Him!
On this the LORD’S day and every day in-between until the next LORD’S day, we are reminded in the 23rd Psalm—How it is we are to be & What we are to pursue.
“The LORD is my shepherd,”
&
Because He is my shepherd, “I shall not want.”
Because He is my shepherd, “He makes me lie down in green pastures;”
Because He is my shepherd, “He leads me beside quiet waters.”
Because He is my shepherd, “He restores my soul;”
Because He is my shepherd, “He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.”
Today, we are reminded who we are in relation to—Almighty Jehovah God.
We are daughters and sons of the most-High King!
Pause right there.
Allow that TRUTH to sink way down into your inner being.
This morning, just as I usually do, I sat reading through the missionary list of those individuals who are serving on the mission field, those who have given up their secular position in their home cities to be re-planted by the LORD, to serve Him in a new land, in a new place, and maybe even in a new career path. As I sat reading through the list of missionaries who were celebrating birthdays today, many were denoted only by their initials: GS, LP, SS, AR, RM, CL, and then I came to the list of those retired missionaries, of those who once served as a foreign or domestic missionary but who have now finished their work. The first name I came to just happened to be: Don Dixon (the very same name as my dad who has passed away and gone home to heaven to be with the LORD).
In the Word of God, we read how the apostle Paul served as a mentor to young Timothy. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we read these words—
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God
- as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
- accurately handing the word of truth.
But
- avoid worldly and empty chatter,
- for it will lead to further ungodliness,
- and their talk will spread like gangrene.
. . .
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal,
- “The Lord knows those who are His,” and,
- “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will
- be a vessel for honor,
- sanctified,
- useful to the Master,
- prepared for every good work.
Now flee
- from youthful lusts and
pursue
- righteousness,
- faith,
- love and
- peace,
with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
But refuse
- foolish and ignorant speculations,
knowing that they produce quarrels.”
(The 2nd Letter of Paul to Timothy 2: 15-17a & 19-23 NASB)
Yes, today, on the LORD’S day & every day until the next LORD’S day—
We are reminded who we are in relation to—Almighty Jehovah God.
- We are daughters and sons of the most-High King!
We are reminded in the 23rd Psalm—He is my shepherd,
- How it is we are to be & What we are to pursue.
We are constantly reminded how we are to be ready to go home to be with the LORD.
- We are called—to NOT be perfect but—to be SANCTIFIED, to be DIFFERENT, to be SET APART from the world.
We are to continually recall the promise the LORD gives to His children—
“For I am confident of this very thing,
(The Letter of Paul to the Philippians 1: 6 NASB)
that He who began a good work in you
will perfect it
until the day of Christ Jesus.”