I Lack Nothing

The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing!  Psalm 23:1

We have been compared to as Sheep and Jesus our Shepherd over 500 times in the bible. What exactly could make the Lord equate us to this fluffy soft animal? 
Walk through this with me fellow sheep.

The Sheep:

Meek, and slightly aloof to the world around them. They have a flocking desire and follow a leader. Without a good leader a sheep will walk off a cliff if the other sheep do so. They are extremely social and need to be around others. Other than their eye sight they have little to defend themselves. So they have to stay alert to SEE their prey so they have time to run away but their depth perception is poor so it may be closer then they think. Their hearing is quite acute which causes them to spook easily. They can smell water. They are extremely picky eaters. They are very stubborn and takes a strong leader to control them. A shepherd that needed to get a sheep to obey, because they are prone to wander off, would break it's leg and carry him around until it healed. Showing the sheep that he was dependent on him. No wonder we are described as Sheep!

The Shepherd:

The Shepherd cares for His Flock.  

And when the Lord says HE is your Shepherd it is immeasurably more. 

He creates boundaries to keep you safe. He is an example to follow.  He is trustworthy because you have seen His character time and time again. He provides your every need.  He sacrifices for the benefit of whom He cares for. He is invested thru thick and thin, never wavering.  He relational. His sheep know Him. He has made himself known.  His is a visionary.  He see what is to come and prepares us.

When we allow Him to be our Shepherd we lack Nothing. He gives us all we need. ALL WE NEED. Not some. ALL. 

 Trust and obey the great Shepherd and walk by Him in peace.

. 

The Rock and a hard place.

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5



Obstacles. 


They are small and big. They are proud and weak. They are busy and lazy. They will be there tomorrow. And cause you to dwell on yesterday. Some are good. Keeping you from harm. As a mother keeps her toddler from climbing a stair case. Some are bad. Like a constant distraction when you are reading or praying. Or trying to focus on an important task. 
There are times our important task. Is carrying out the Will of God. HIS plan for you. Something He has revealed to you over and over. But because of obstacles we put them on our to-do list. Save them for tomorrow. There will be time but not today. And we don't answer the call that God has placed before us. 

We--- ME have become a lazy people. People walked for days to be at the feet of Jesus. To just get a glimpse of Him from afar. Were lowered on pallets through the ceiling to get close to him. 
WE ----ME. Complain that church is 20 whole minutes away. The pastor is going on and causing the service to run over. The kids are complaining about being hungry. You have a million things to do when it is over. And how are you going to complete it and still get home in time to watch the game. Clean. Cook. Laundry. And all the while we have FORGOTTEN the FACT. 
God dwelt among us. 
He put on flesh and came to this earth and taught us HIS ways. 
We are in an instant gratification society. You want your church 45 minutes. Children in a separate area. New music. Big band. We have that. You want 30 minutes service. 1 song. NO offering collections and a guitar. We have that. You want a big mega concert with an inspiring uplifting feel good sermon.. oh We have that. 

You want to listen to the Holy Spirit? DO the will of God no matter how much TIME.. weeks month YEARS it takes?...... record scratch. But. I am busy. I want to but I am SO busy. Character was not built on good intentions. 

I heard a teacher once use the phrase SLOW OBEY IS NO OBEY. If your 4 year old is slow to do as you ask. It is the same as if he did not obey at all. Because he is doing it at his leisure. Which is rebellion. How much more are we as adults?? No one is there to tell you again. .or threat to ground you. or put you in time out.. OH sign me up for TIME OUT. 

We must become FULLY OBEDIENT.  Let's say that again.

I MUST BECOME FULLY OBEDIENT. 

When we become fully obedient there are a few things that happen. One. We please God. NUMBER 1... we please God. Like sweet incense. When we FULLY obey God. We please Him.  The creator of the universe. PLEASED because I obeyed Him. 

"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations."


Second. He blesses us. He gives good gifts to his children. HE will bless you. 

"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world."
Deuteronomy 28

"Understand, Therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him AND obey his commands"
Deuteronomy 7:9




I encourage you, Beloved. OBEY God. Do as He asks. DO what the word of God says. DO His commands. And He is faithful.

 HE. IS. FAITHFUL!!!! 

He can not deny himself. It is impossible for him to do. His faithfulness is a shield. Take refuge under it. And it will endure forever. His loving kindness will never cease. His compassion never fails. They are NEW every morning.

SO This day my friends. Step out and DO as He has requested. Fully Obey. And watch what happens! 

Bless you.