Yesterday’s devotional started with how King David proclaimed the LORD his Shepherd. He had the full knowledge of what Shepherd means. The responsibilities of Shepherd over the flock show he directs, protects, guides, feeds and give confidence to the flock. David said that the LORD is my shepherd. I shall not want” (Psa. 23: 1 – 2). What this implies is that David trusted that God has all he will need and he lacks nothing that would make him look up to other persons or sources for his supply. Saying the LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want ought to give us confidence that God/Jesus are ones we will look up to for all we want to have. Looking towards man for our supplies is sign of misdirection of hope. As our good shepherd, Jesus should be trusted for taking sole responsibility to care for us forever. The wants of life, especially the desire of having foods to eat has made many compromised their faith.
Accepting the LORD as our shepherd should equip us with obedience to hearing the LORD’s voice for directions for anything to be done. There are so many voices in the world these days giving directions and instructions, making more people to go the ways of demons and Satan. Christians who say the “LORD is my shepherd” but listening to strange voices for their businesses and religious allegiances are on their own. Jesus knowing Himself as shepherd said this in John 10: 27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…” The globe is full of adults and teenagers running after things they want without taking counsel from God about what they are pursuing. Christian adults and teenagers must take counsel of what to do, what to be and what to pursue from the LORD if He is seen as their shepherd.
The testimony of King David that the LORD “…maketh me to lie down in green pastures” (Psa. 23: 2) should be looked into keenly. As our shepherd, God will always lead us to places of freshness, be it health issues, business engagements or other life endeavours. Green pasture connotes freshness and continuous blossoming. If we allow ourselves to be following God or Jesus as our shepherds, we will be moving in health and material prosperities. We can add being in a place of true peace and satisfactions to lying down in green pastures. We should trust the LORD for having ability to provide us security from dangers giving divine protections. God spoke through Prophet Ezekiel thus: “I will feed them in good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their folds be: there shall they lie in good fold, and in fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God” (Ezekiel 34: 14 – 15). May we Christians never look elsewhere for our needs in Jesus name.
PRAYER:
BLESSED LORD JESUS, make your grace sufficient for me in this world of lacks, where the plights of the masses means nothing to the existing rulers in the name of Jesus.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch