Your Daily Devotional for March 9, 2006

March 9, 2006

 

Rest in Green Pastures

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Psalm 23

 

What burden are you bearing today? What trial are you going through? Whatever your need may be, realize that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, desires to provide for His sheep. Psalm 23:1 says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." God says that His sheep do not have to want. His desire is to provide for their every need according to His riches in glory.

 

Carefully consider Psalm 23. David says.

I shall not want for nourishment - "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

I shall not want for refreshment - "He leadeth me beside the still waters."

I shall not want for preservation - "He restoreth my soul."

I shall not want for guidance - "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

I shall not want for peace - "I will fear no evil."

I shall not want for companionship - "thou art with me."

I shall not want for courage or comfort - "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

I shall not want for provision - "thou preparest a table before me."

I shall not want for protection for He is there - "in the presence of mine enemies."

I shall not want for health - "thou annointeth my head with oil."

I shall not want for joy - "my cup runneth over."

I shall not want for happiness - "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me."

I shall not want for eternal life - "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

 

Oh, what a blessing to know that we have a personal Shepherd who plans, prepares, and provides for us! His promise in Ephesians 1:13 tells us that the Holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. If you've accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then His seal is upon you. It's not the seal of a church or the baptistry water; it's the seal of the Person of the Holy Spirit of God. You don't have to want or worry about where you'll spend eternity, and no one can pluck you out of His hand.

 

Jesus is preparing "green pastures" and "still waters" of rest for His sheep. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," and Ezekiel 34:15 says, "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD." Moreover, John 14:1-3 tells us that He's providing a place for us with streets of gold and gates of pearl, but the best part is that Jesus says he will come again! "That where I am, there ye may be also."

 

Until the day that we see Him face to face, God has prepared the spiritual sustenance that each of us needs, and it can be found in His Word. All we have to do is open it and read it. He's got something for you in His Word, in your Sunday school class, and at church each Sunday. Don't miss it!

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