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Morning Devotional...

WALKING IN THE OLD PATHS Jeremiah 6:16 By the late Jack Scott 9. The Shepherd's Psalm--Part (iii)

Perhaps you can imagine the scene. In the far distance, the sun shines over the misty blue mountains. Below them lie the upland moors covered with deep rich purple heather and golden yellow gorse. Immediately in front of us, and just beyond the field gate on which you and I are leaning, is a beautiful verdant pasture.

The grass is lush and wild flowers grow in colorful array. If we stand quietly, we can hear above the soft rustle of the wind, the musical drone of the honey bees as they gather nectar from delicate blooms.

About five hundred yards away, the cool, clear waters of a river flow serenely and silently towards the distant sea.

A little flock of sheep, some with lambs, lie peacefully undisturbed near the river's edge. If we were to look at them through our binoculars, we would see them gently chewing their cud as they draw nourishment from the abundant provision of fresh food. They surely are the picture of contentment and tranquillity. This is something like the picture that Psalm 23 calls to my mind.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) Why are the sheep in our little scene so peaceful, so content, so unruffled as they enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun?

I think my shepherd friend, Johnny Crawford, would tell us that a flock such as we have described are free from fear, have enough to eat and are not plagued with parasites. If we remove any one of these conditions the sheep will not be at peace.

Has not God given us a lovely picture in Psalm 23 of the condition of His believing people? In Psalm 95:7, we read "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." Every good shepherd will care for his flock, removing the sheep from danger, providing medical treatment to prevent parasites and ensure sufficient food to keep them strong and healthy.

Our "Good Shepherd" has done so much more for His flock than the best of earthly shepherds. To start with He says to us in John 10:11, "I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep". He paid the ultimate price to purchase His flock and to deliver them from the fear of eternal death. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).

In Christ our shepherd we have all we need for eternity. When we realize that "I am His and He is mine", fears quickly diminish and should fade away. When the Shepherd is present the wolf will seek some other prey. We need not fear man or devil, even if they kill us we shall live with Him.

If we are aware of His divine presence we will find food abundant for our souls and our spirits will rejoice in the Bread of Life, for He feeds us with food sufficient for our requirements. This He does as we seek to feed on His word and to find Him there. We can, with the Shulamite maiden experience the bounty of His hand. Listen to her words, "He brought me into the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love." (Song of Solomon 2:4) My friends let us feat on the good things of His word as we bask in the sunshine of His love.

"He leadeth me beside the still waters." Sheep like human beings need more than food to live; both need water if they are to survive. In Revelation 21:6, we read, "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts'."

What is the water of life? The Lord Jesus when speaking to the woman of Samaria told her of "living water" which if a person drank he or she would never thirst again. "But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah talks about that water in Isaiah 12:2,3 "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." And the Lord Jesus Christ explains its meaning for us in John 7:37-39, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

We see then that the water is the Holy Spirit whom we receive by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd. The Holy Spirit is needed to give life to those who are dead in sin. He is God's agent in the new birth as we are told in John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit". And it is His presence that sustains eternal life in all those who come by faith to the Lord Jesus for Salvation. It is He who enables us to become true disciples of the one who loved us unto death; the good shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.

If you and I are truly united by faith to the great Shepherd we can enjoy peace greater and more beautiful than any earthly scene. No matter what our material blessings or lack of them we have a peace that passes all understanding, food that nourishes for eternity and water that quenches the thirst for satisfaction in a way the broken cisterns of earth cannot satisfy.

To know this Shepherd is to love Him, and to love Him is to know Him in a way that can only be experienced by His flock. We will close this part of our studies with His gracious invitation as it is found in Isaiah 55:1-3a "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live."

Can you afford to reject this lovely overture of love and mercy? If you are one of His sheep, does not the knowledge of His love thrill your heart and cheer your spirit?

---

Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.

Good Morning/Evening all,

AMEN!

How true and how lovely is that thought!

It truely comforts the soul when the things of life are trying to bowl you down.
Thank you for this mornings devotional, it helps to soothe a tired mind.

Every Blessing to you all,
<><Jeannine

Hi everyone.  We are leaving in just a couple of minutes to go to our Pastor's Bible Study class.  He is a fine teacher and I have been looking forward to his classes.  Then this afternoon Pat has a doctor's appointment and tonight is choir so I will be gone most of the day.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Good morning!  I hope all of you have a nice day.  Mine promises to be very busy.

Ali is at the vets.  Bless her heart, she just doesn't like cars and cried all the way there.  But the helper said he didn't think she had a blockage because she wet in the carrier.  Said that if the vet thinks Ali has a UTI, then I can get her this afternoon or this evening.  So pray for my lovely kitty and ME.  I have cried buckets just thinking I might lose her.  I know, kitties shouldn't out live their owners but she is my baby.   

Hang in there, Etta

Ohh, Etta Sue, I know how you're feeling.  That's how I was in April when Geordie was so ill.

Thinking about you.

Praying here Etta Sue.

Not much to say today at least not yet.  I have to pick up some medicine for Jan  and deliver it while I am in the  same park where she lives . I am taking Ruth to the grocery store and cleaning her house this morning after Tai chi .

After I come home  I will walk the dogs. I need to find a new route before winter comes along because on the dirt roads there will be to many puddles. I Don't like to take them where there is a lot of traffic but  I think I will have to do that.I am on a paved road and some of our present route is not paved.

TTYL

Jeanine, I'm happy that you enjoyed the devotional today.  It's encouraging to those of us who post it each day to know that it was a blessing to someone.

.

I don't always comment, but I read EVERY devotional daily. 

Thanks Carl.   When do you go to Alaska? 

Hi all, Nice to see you.

I wish you a day of ordinary miracles----

A fresh pot of coffee
you didn't make yourself.

An unexpected phone call
from an old friend.
               
Green stoplights on your
way to work or shop.

I wish you a day of
little things to rejoice in...

The fastest line at the grocery store.

A good sing along song on the radio.

Your keys right where you look.

I wish you a day of
happiness and perfection--

I wish you little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny
feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you
are someone special and rare.

I wish You a day of Peace,
Happiness and Joy.
Remember to Make the Time TODAY,
To do something Special
  for a Total Stranger.
Have a TERRIFIC day

Love to you all, Alma


   

Thanks!

Say a prayer for my mom she had cataract surgery yesterday and we just returned from the doctors. She will have to have more tomorrow to get the rest of it before it does any damage.

I too know what it is like with a pet that you love like your own child. I also cried buckets when I had to have my first dog put to sleep a couple of years ago, she was 13 and the best. Hope all goes well with Ali.

Every Blessing to you all,
<><Jeannine

Quote from: Pat on August 16, 2006, 11:55:38 AM
Thanks Carl.   When do you go to Alaska? 

Well, things changed and my wife isn't going up there any longer, so I have no plans at the present time.  I do want to get up there and visit my son and grandkids at some point, however.

Hi all y-all just running through here to read the posts  and let ya know tha t was here. 

Eta Sue what's the new on Ali? 

Hi Marilyn!  Good you were here!   

The 23rd Psalm has special meaning in my life. It has been a part of everyone of my deceased family members funeral services.  Guess it goes back to when my grandfather died and when we found him, he passed away taking a nap after working in his garden. The Bible was laying beside him and it was opened to "guess what", the 23rd Psalm. It became a family "heirloom" passed down to all generations since then.

I am enjoying the devotional series, thanks !

It's that time!  Time to lock this door.

But you may continue posting here.