Sunday 26 March 2017

My Shepherd

My Shepherd
The Psalmist writes,
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 
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. 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.
Is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life or, do you only give intellectual consent to his existence?
Many people say they believe in God but they do not truly trust in Him.
 I had one pastor that came from the so called bible belt states that said it was hard in some areas to tell if people truly trusted God. Whether a person had truly given their life to Christ.
 It was hard because going to church was part of the culture. People simply went to church on a Sunday and said they were Christian because it was the thing to do. These people knew what he called “church speak”. They knew what to say, how to say it when to say it and how they were expected to act.
I see it with politicians in the United States in particular. They say “God bless America” they even go to church while in office. Presidents attend Prayer breakfasts and other religious things yet are they truly saved?
I have a feeling there are many people who go to church, perhaps even the majority in some areas, that say they believe in God, which they might, that are not going to heaven because  they have not truly made Jesus the Shepherd of their life.
Following God is truly an act of faith, and while many may think they have faith in God what they are really have is the intellectually belief that God exists.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.
Martin Luther King Jr. the great American civil rights leader said,
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Is this the kind of faith you have. Are you willing to truly trust something you cannot see or feel? Do you truly have faith in God or is it simply intellectual consent?
Please think about it.

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