Loved and Forgiven

When we actually come face to face with God's glory, we realize just how sinful we are. This encounter changes our very countenance, attitude, behavior, focus and prayer life (Exodus 34:35; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 4:31-32).

We trust our life on earth to God's perfect plan for us (Ephesians 2:10). We find fulfillment, peace and joy through His love and forgiveness (Romans 14:17). We keep our eyes on Jesus, regardless of our circumstances (Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 3:9).

We never pay back evil with more evil, and we do things in such a way that everyone can see we are filled with the honor, grace and love of God (Romans 12:17). We no longer condemn others, because we realize that we are sinners too.

We think and act with mercy, grace and compassion. We also realize the magnitude of God's love for us, and we express His glory by allowing His love to flow through us to others.

The love of God is multi-dimensional with width, length, depth and height (Ephesians 3:17-19). It completely surrounds us in every way. There is no escaping the love of God.

We collapse into God's waiting arms with the confidence that He will catch us and never, ever let us go (Hebrews 13:5). He abides in our spirit and makes a huge difference in our life both now and throughout eternity (Romans 8:11).

God does miraculous works for and through those who love Him and obey His Word (Deuteronomy 28:1-13; Hebrews 11:6). Our inheritance in His Kingdom is full of His glory (Acts 20:32).

When we flee from temptation and please God, we increase in the grace and knowledge of all that the Lord means to us (2 Timothy 2:22-24; 2 Peter 3:18). He is miraculous, amazing, magnificent and incomprehensible in human terms. He is the great I AM (John 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5).

Prayer:

Father God, You are our peace and Christ is our very life (Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:4). Thank You for Your eternal covenant with Your Saints through the crucified body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. You are the great Shepherd and we feel so secure as Your people and the sheep of Your pasture (Psalm 100:3).

You equip us with every good thing, which we need to walk in Your perfect, pre-planned will for our life (Ephesians 2:10, 13:21; Philippians 1:6). You work out of us anything which displeases You, until we are holy in Your sight through our Lord, Jesus Christ. We will glorify You forever and ever (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Thought for the Day:

God never disciplines from anger or vindictiveness, but with the purpose of drawing us back to His love and forgiveness. 

God Calls Us All

God calls the foolish, weak, dishonorable and despised person in order to shame the wise, strong and important, so that we will not boast in our abilities and take credit for what God accomplishes in and through us (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

Satan will attempt to influence us to take the credit, but it belongs to God (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we hear Satan's whisper in our mind, we realize the lie that it is and humbly thank God for using us.

Gideon was an illegitimate son in an insignificant clan of the tribe of Manasseh, and he even called himself the least in the family. Yet, God called Him to deliver Israel from the Midianite bondage.

David was a little shepherd boy when he killed Goliath. Moses was a murderer and could not speak well. Paul was very educated and had many accomplishments to his credit.

Yet, they all realized they were nothing without our Almighty God (Philippians 3:7-8). God even uses children and babies to prove His existence and to silence the God-haters (Psalm 8:2).

God foils the plans of the wise, exposes the supposed miracles of false prophets and plainly reveals the nonsense of pseudo-intellectuals (Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 8:9).

God shows us the foolishness of the wisdom of the world, and saves us through what the world considers the foolishness of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 2:12).

God chooses the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the riches in His Kingdom, which He promises to those who love Him and keep His commandments (James 2:5; John 14:15).
Prayer:

Father God, You expose the lofty who take credit for what You do for us and You continually do marvelous works on our behalf (Isaiah 26:5-6; 29:14, 19). The poor are always with us, to remind us that we are just a breath away from destitution, unless we trust in You (Matthew 26:11; Zephaniah 3:12).

You give us wisdom when we ask for it and hide Your treasure within us, in order to prove Your authority and Kingship over our life (James 1:5-6; Luke 19:39-40; 2 Corinthians 4:7). Then you give us weapons that are not for carnal warfare, but spiritual; so that we can triumph over all of our enemies (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5, 10).

Thought for the Day:

In the Kingdom of God, there are no big "I's" and little "U's", but we are all equal with the same Holy Spirit residing within us and leading us throughout every moment of our day.

Health and Well Being - Part 3

Our Spirit, Body and Soul are all interconnected and depend upon one another for complete health. God shows mercy on our troubled soul and infirmed body; and He wants us to respond when He calls us to help each other (Psalm 6:2-3). If we see the anguish in someone's soul and do not obey the Spirit's direction to help alleviate that distress, God finds us guilty of neglect (Genesis 42:21).

With God as our gentle shepherd, there is nothing we need, which He will not supply. He gives us more than we need physically; and He also restores our soul, after we experience a wounding and upsetting situation (Psalm 23:1-3). As we wait on God, He feeds our body and spirit as He delivers us from the prison of our wounded soul (Psalm 62:1, 142:7; Proverbs 13:25).

The more depressed our soul is, the more God encourages us to hope in Him and to praise Him through our trials. He brightens our emotions and body language, while He delivers our soul from grief (Psalm 42:5-6, 11). As we grow spiritually, we long to walk in the courts of our living God, and we cry out for a deeper union with Him (Psalm 84:1-2). Our intimate relationship with Him gives us a new perspective on life.

Attending church services, reading our Bible, praising God continually, fellowshipping with Christian friends and staying in tune with God all day long, through communion with His Spirit, will help to strengthen our spirit. This causes our soul to blossom and brings health to our body all at the same time (3 John 1:2).

Prayer:

Father God, Your sound wisdom and discretion give life and grace to our soul. You allow us to walk safely without stumbling, even during treacherous experiences throughout our lifetime (Proverbs 3:21-23). Remind us to be aware of our own and also our neighbor's need for nurturing; and lead us by Your Spirit to help us in these times of necessity. We incline our ear to You and follow hard after You, so that we may hear Your life-giving Words (Isaiah 55:3).

Thought for the Day:

Our soul clings to God for comfort in times of both stress and distress. - Psalm 63:8

You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes!

Read: Psalm 95:6-7

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4

What is the difference between the rod and staff, which was used by a shepherd and is also referred to in the Bible as used by Jesus, our shepherd? A shepherd’s rod expresses the idea of power, discipline, protection and authority. It is a defense against danger. On the other hand, his staff conveys the concept of kindness, support and patience. It is the instrument of nurture and care.

The Rod

Shepherd boys, from their youngest age, take immense pride in being allowed to choose their own rod and staff. To make the rod, they select a young, hardwood sapling and dig it up from the ground. With great excitement they whittle the thin tree to fit their own unique size and strength. The thick part of the sapling, where the trunk joins the roots, is carved into a smooth rounded head that can bludgeon a predator to its death.

Once he is satisfied with his handiwork, the shepherd boy spends hours practicing to use this instrument. He can throw it to scare away a predator, or knock the enemy in the head, or he can use it to club the intruder to death. It is also used to beat the brush in order to deter any snakes or small animals from bothering the sheep. He can use the rod to reach out and grab away and then kill any snake ready to bite. He uses the rod as an extension of his arm. It gives him a sense of command and ability in the face of danger.

The shepherd also uses the rod for counting the sheep. The shepherds cause their flock to pass under their rod as they go through the gate of the sheepfold (Ezekiel 20:37 ). They count and examine each sheep as it passes below. The shepherd uses the rod to part the fleece and examine the condition of the skin for cleanliness and health. This is where we get our saying, “You can’t pull the wool over my eyes.” In other words, you are not going to get by with anything while I am in charge.

The Staff

The second piece of equipment in the shepherd’s arsenal is a staff. It is a long, slender stick with a crook or hook on the end. It is also selected with care and smoothed and shaped to the shepherd’s personal height. This tool is not used for herding any other type of animal, only sheep. The staff is truly designed for the comfort of the sheep. The staff also identifies the shepherd in his trade. It provides extra strength and support for his body as he leans on it with each step while he treks the many miles leading his sheep to find suitable water and pastureland.

The hook at the end of the staff is to grab sheep that are going into dangerous places or starting to eat poisonous weeds. The shepherd catches them around the hind leg and drags them to safety. In this way the shepherd exercises authority and protection over the flock. He also uses his staff to herd the sheep together into a cohesive herd. In order to prevent his human smell from offending the ewe, he uses the staff to lift a newborn and steer it towards its mother if they should get separated. On other occasions, the tip of the long, slender staff is laid against the sheep’s side. Then the shepherd applies pressure to guide the sheep until it returns to the right path.

He also uses the staff to catch and draw a sheep toward himself for closer scrutiny and assessment. Very timorous sheep often stray from the flock, and the shepherd uses his staff to steer them back into the safety of the group. If a sheep falls into water, the staff quickly lifts them back up on dry ground. Detangling sheep from briers and thorns is best done with the staff as well. There are an unlimited number of uses for the staff.

***

Similarly, the rod and staff of the Lord keep us safe. As we heedlessly go into dangerous situations devised by satanic predators or if we simply wander off in the wrong direction in life, our Shepherd rescues us and puts us back on the straight and narrow road. Jesus uses these tools equally to bring us comfort and correction. He feeds his flock like a shepherd. He carries His lambs in His arms, holding them close to his heart. He gently leads the ewes and their young (Isaiah 40:11).

Jesus knows His sheep and we know Him and follow after His voice (John 10:14; 27). Thankfully, we are assured that as His people, God will protect us or chasten us, whichever we need and as the occasion calls for it. Our Heavenly Father is our kind and good shepherd. We are his people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 79:13; Psalm 100:3; Micah 7:14).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, shepherd Your people with your staff, and Your flock of Your inheritance, which lives in fertile pasturelands. Although we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we have no need to fear any evil. You are with us and Your rod and Your staff bring us comfort (Psalm 23:4).

Thought for the Day:
“For he is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. - Psalm 95:7



For more information see:

http://wonderofcreation.org/2011/05/27/the-comforting-rod-and-staff-2/