Month: May 2023

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25

You Are With Me

Psalm 23 was originally written in Hebrew. It’s a gorgeous piece of poetry. One feature in many Hebrew poems is that the theme is in the middle of the poem. In Psalm 23 there are 26 Hebrew words before the middle verse and 26 Hebrew words after it. Right there in the middle, the theme of the poem, are the words translated as “You are with me.”

It can be scary for me to think of the Lord as someone who is with me. I am so bad so often it is embarrassing to realize that he sees all of that. In today’s Bible passage, the apostle Peter says that I act like a sheep who is stupid enough to leave the flock and go out astray on its own. Peter knew a thing or two about acting stupid in front of Jesus.

But Peter also knew a thing or two about repenting and returning to Jesus. He calls Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of his soul and not just his soul but mine too.

When I realize that Jesus forgives me, his being with me is not scary anymore. Instead, his presence comforts me. I will fear no evil because he is with me. No accusation of conscience or of the devil is stronger than his presence. In fact, I really want him around when those guilty thoughts make me feel panicky and alone.

“You are with me” is the center and theme of Psalm 23. “You are with me” is the motto of my Christian life.

Prayer:
Be with me, Lord Jesus. I ask you stay close by me forever and love me. Amen.

They will come in and go out, and find pasture. . .I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:9,10

Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever

Good relationships are a key to finding happiness and living a full life. Research shows that solid relationships help people live longer, deal with stress better, and have healthier habits. There is compelling evidence that strong relationships contribute to long, healthy, and happy lives. The quality of relationships is the single biggest predictor of happiness.

Psalm 23 spells out that truth in a beautifully poetic way. The writer talks about his good relationship with the Lord and says, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.”

So it isn’t a surprise when Jesus, the Good Shepherd mentioned in Psalm 23, says about his followers, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

It might be a surprise, though, when the followers of Jesus have difficulties in their relationships, feel lonely, or find themselves occasionally isolated. Didn’t Jesus promise a full life, and doesn’t that usually mean excellent relationships?

Jesus is aware of the difficulties in relationships in this life. He knows that his followers will go through stages, coming in and going out, getting closer and moving on.

In order to provide the most stability, Jesus offers a relationship with himself. Since he died to take the punishment for sins, he always forgives and continues the relationship. Since he rose from the dead, he is always there.

Jesus knows that relationships in this life are imperfect, so he invites us to look forward to the perfection of eternal life in heaven. Psalm 23 ends with these comforting words: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, grant me good Christian relationships in this life, and comfort me with the promise of perfect relationships in eternity through faith in you. Amen.

The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:3,4

He Leads You

The picture painted by the words of Psalm 23 is beautiful. The Lord, your Shepherd, makes you lie down in green pastures. He leads you beside quiet waters. He restores and refreshes your soul. He guides you along the right paths.

The Lord Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. He wants you to think of him as the Shepherd in Psalm 23. When he speaks, he wants you to follow him.

You can be certain that he will make you lie down in green pastures. His words in the Bible are so nourishing and fulfilling, that whenever you read them, you will notice good spiritual food all around you.

When you are anxious, listen to the promises that Jesus makes in the Bible, and rest beside the quiet waters of his strength and love.

When you feel guilty, listen to the quiet voice of his forgiveness.

When your soul is distressed by pain and unfairness in your life and in the lives of your loved ones, look up to the Shepherd who knows the future and promises to work it all out for your good. Let his goodness restore and refresh you.

When you wonder about the right thing to do, follow Jesus on the path of his righteousness, and trust that he will bless your decisions and declare you holy.

You can’t go wrong listening to the voice of Jesus. He leads you exactly where it is best for you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, lead me safely through this life by your strong and loving Word. Amen.

Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. . .I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”
John 10:7,9

The Real Entrance

The first words of Psalm 23 are pretty famous: “The Lord is my shepherd.” If I take those words seriously and want to get close to the Lord, I need to enter his sheep pen and know where the gate is.

The last words of Psalm 23 are also pretty famous: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” If I take those words seriously and want to be in the mansion of the Lord forever, I need to know where the door is.

Psalm 23 was written by David, a man who started out as a shepherd and ended up as a king. At first he lived outside with sheep, but at the end of his life he lived in a palace. The words of the psalm reflect his journey.

Jesus was a descendant of David. When he was born, his mother placed him in a manger—a place where animals were fed. His life followed the pattern of his ancestor, David. Now he lives in the glory of heaven, and he invites me to join him there.

He explains how I can get to heaven. Thinking of sheep, he calls himself the gate. Thinking of a king’s palace, he calls himself the door. In either expression, he means to say that believing in him is the only way to get to heaven, to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I have approached places where it is hard to identify the real entrance, and it’s frustrating. Thankfully, that’s not the case when it comes to entering heaven. Jesus identifies himself as the only real entrance to a relationship with God and an eternity in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, guide me safely to a close relationship with you and to an eternal home in heaven. Amen.