Praise God that we do not need to feel the full brunt of death in this world, because our Good Shepherd is always with us.
“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.” Ps 23:4 ESV
Every part of the Presence of our Good Shepherd is comforting to His sheep, even the weapons He carries with Him. Sheepmen always have a rod and staff with them to protect and guide their flock, and Jesus is no exception. The rod is meant to be a tool to protect the sheep from wild animals. The staff is an instrument that will keep His sheep from getting themselves into danger, as well as keeping them close by His side. The hook of the iconic staff can be used to gently pluck a wayward sheep out of his own mess and move him back to the flock. These vital instruments speak about our Good Shepherd’s strength, power and authority so He can keep the sheep safe from danger around them, as well as from themselves.
Like the rod and staff in the hands of a shepherd, for we “sheepeople” of God, His Word serves as our defense and guide. It should be comforting for the children of God that we can rely on His never-changing Word to be our plumb line through which to live. When this world starts proclaiming its corrupt and wicked agendas are normal and good, we can turn to the power and authority of God’s Word to discern the truth. If we are truly sheep of our Good Shepherd, then we must walk by His side, learning to live life the way He intended it to be lived, holy and pure, like He is. As the great evangelist Dwight L Moody said, “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
Let’s wrap this up tomorrow…
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
July: 26- Jas 2:19; 27- Dt 31:8; 28- Jn 14:15; 29- Jn 8:11
August: 30- Ro 8:1; 31- Pr 4:23; 32- Pr 18:21; 33- Ps 118:24; 34- 1Jn 4:4
35- Mt 16:24
36- Isa 53:6
37- Ps 23:1-4
<>< Peace, Diane
