March 25, 2007

Step 3: . We made a decision to turn our life and will over to the care of God.

Scripture reading for today: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23

In case you haven’t noticed, Jesus is a very polarizing force in history. During his time on earth, he was both beloved and betrayed. He had a relatively brief period of public ministry – about three years, and then he was crucified. Of course, the story didn’t end there – three days after that heart-wrenching death, he arose from the grave. He hung out for awhile, returning to his disciples, re-teaching and re-casting his vision for their future (and his). During the time following his resurrection and prior to His return to heaven, Luke, a doctor and chronicler of the life and times of Jesus, said this about Jesus in Luke 24:45, Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Think about it. These were his disciples, his desperately devoted followers. These guys had left everything for him! They still needed Jesus to open their minds so they could understand the scriptures. If the disciples, taught by the master himself, needed all this coaching, do you think that we can expect to need some remedial assistance too? Listen to the voice of Jesus.

“If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?” How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!” Matthew 12:11-12 NIV

The context of this conversation is vital. Jesus was just about to violate the rule of law of the Sabbath, in favor of obeying the spirit of that same law. His enemies, hoping to catch him in an act of wrongdoing, used this as an excuse to plot his death. Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from that place.

The fact that He was healing the sick escaped the attention of his accusers. Let’s not make the same mistake. The Lord is our shepherd. A good shepherd tends his flock – feeding them, watering them, and protecting them from harm.

Thought for today: Have you wandered from the protection of your good shepherd? Have you forgotten that your safety is found in the shadow of the Prince of Peace? Have you been looking for love, peace, rest, and respect in all the wrong places? Ask the Lord to show you today how you have been a virtual enemy of the good shepherd. Ask him to reveal to you the ways you’ve lost your focus. Listen to his voice, speaking gently to you about the important truths that have escaped your attention. Ask Jesus to open your mind, so that you can understand the scriptures. Ask him to give you an unquenchable thirst for his word, and an unwavering commitment to peer intently into it. Expect an answer.

Thought for tomorrow: How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!” Matthew 12:12 NIV
You are far more valuable to God than you may realize. You can trust him with your life.

March 25
Teresa McBean