Subtitle: Pursue the Shepherd by becoming more of a sheep. fully lead, and you decide to fully follow. Allow Jesus to fully lead, and you decide to fully follow.

Excerpt: Pursue the Shepherd by becoming more of a sheep. fully lead, and you decide to fully follow. Allow Jesus to fully lead, and you decide to fully follow.

Author: Rich Holt

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Psalm 23:1, ” The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ” 

Background

Have you ever heard yourself say something that you knew you just didn’t quite believe? Or have you heard someone else make a statement that sounded much more like an attempt to convince themselves of something than it sounded like a declaration that they truly believed? Coaches and athletes seem to be pretty good at spinning situations around to make them appear to be intentional and beneficial, when in all likelihood the expected outcome is going to be less than stellar. Folks who suddenly have their days freed up from having lost their job, or couples where one person in the relationship decides that they both need some space. Their words make sense, but their heart and soul are just not in it. Such is the case when certain ones recite the truths of scripture. They read that the Lord is our shepherd. They’ve heard it for years, and seen all the familiar images of Him and His flock. But it just doesn’t register. It should, and they want it to. But it’s not quite there. Others quote this line and can only envision it as a promise of the future. The Lord may be shepherding, but there is still plenty of lacking. God is guiding the ship, but He’s certainly not trying very hard to hit all the good spots or reveal His entire hand. The really good stuff won’t come until the next life. 

Application

But there are those who live under a shepherd and shall not want, do not want, refuse to want. The shepherd tends, and that’s all that matters. How He tends, or where He tends, is not an issue. It’s just the backdrop to life with a Good Shepherd. But it doesn’t come just by reading or memorizing a verse. Calling Jesus your shepherd will sound just as hollow as the coach who says he’s excited about the challenges ahead for his team who has to replace its star quarterback with an unproven backup if not for one thing. You must be a sheep. Fully becoming one of His sheep allows Him to fully be your shepherd. When your relationship with Jesus gets there, then you shall not want. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, pursue the Shepherd by becoming more of a sheep. fully lead, and you decide to fully follow. Allow Jesus to fully lead, and you decide to fully follow.