2. Peace from the Shepherd (Psalm 23:2)
Psalm 23:2, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. With the Lord as his shepherd, David knew no want or lack. His needs were met by his shepherd. He had everything he needed. And God's people of every generation have not lacked: We are at rest and at peace when we feel secure, God made it clear that without Him your life would be robbed of His rest and peace. How does a person find peace and rest? You find it by structuring your life around that which cannot be taken away or destroyed. You structure your life around the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Green pastures speak of Rest. " He maketh me to lie down in green pasture;" We will not rest if we are spiritually hungry. The shepherd finds pasture where the sheep can eat safely—a place without parasites or predators that endanger the sheep. This has to do with finding rest in the Word of God. The 'green pastures' represent food to the sheep. The lying down represents leisure or time. This represents God’s people spending time meditating on the food which He has prepared for them, which is the Word of God. The Lord provides a green pasture for his sheep every time the Word of God is truly preached. This challenges all who know the Lord to crave Biblical preaching heartily. It’s in the green pastures where we find peace and pleasure and feast all along. When the shepherd opens a gate into a fresh pasture, the sheep are filled with excitement and kick up their heels for joy. There is great ease spiritually in God’s green, grassy meadows, in living fellowship with the Lord. 2. Still waters speak of Refreshment. " he leadeth me beside the still waters." Sheep do not lack refreshment because they are led beside still waters. God's people often find themselves in need of spiritual refreshment. This is because they walk in a wearying and exhausting world. Where is the needed refreshment to be found? It is green pasture in which we may feed and refreshing water from which we may drink. Often Jesus Christ, the Living Water, is rejected, that men may satisfy themselves at the polluted water holes of the world which cannot satisfy a thirsty soul. Sheep are also easily spooked by fast-moving streams and are hesitant to drink at them. Just as the shepherds of the east country cause the waters to become still so that the sheep will not be afraid to drink, even so does Christ send the Spirit quietly into our lives so that we will not be afraid to drink. The shepherd will slow the current or create pools of water by damming up the stream. He will still or calm the waters. We too, get spooked when life gets moving too fast for us. The Lord can calm us down and give us rest when this happens. We can drink deeply of God’s Holy Spirit who is water to our thirsty souls. The Lord has set us free from captivity; from the turbulent current of this world where we know enjoy peace and rest. A great burden is lifted when a person places complete trust in the Shepherd. The Lord is well in control of every situation, and our peace is simply to be where He is! PRAYER: LORD, thank You for the peace and rest that I have in You. In Jesus Name AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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The Person of the Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. The Lord Jesus Christ is the true shepherd of mankind. He will never forget us, fail us, or forsakes us. Christians are His sheep. As sheep, we need a shepherd in our lives. Isaiah made this very clear. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). Sheep are prone to wander and cannot exist without men. Sheep follow one another and one can lead the others astray. To their own demise, men tend to follow men and not God. Those who make the Lord their Shepherd have so much to be thankful for. They are domestic animals dependent upon the care of men. We too, are dependent upon the Lord. We need Him to shepherd us! David said with confidence and explicitness, “The Lord IS MY shepherd.” We do not look at Him as “a shepherd.” We look at Him as “our shepherd”. He does not say, “The Lord might be my shepherd, could be my shepherd, or is a shepherd”. No, David states, “He is my shepherd.” Christianity is a personal relationship with God through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 23, takes us from an impersonal religion to a personal relationship with God. For example, note the following pattern of references to the Shepherd:
You won’t find sheep being used as a national symbol like eagles, lions, and bears. Why is this? Sheep are slow and stubborn. Sheep are unintelligent animals that do not learn well and are not easily trained. They do not see and hear well. Sheep are dependent and defenseless. They are awkward, not very fast, and have no defense. They are never candidates for king of the forest. They are prone to stray. Sheep may develop a habit of wandering off the Shepherd’s pastureland in search of “greener pastures”. A straying sheep is easy prey and the watchful protection of a caring shepherd is crucial to sheep that have a tendency to wander. Sheep also scare easily and are confused with little effort. Sheep are easily spooked and disturbed. We also tend to be like sheep and become consumed with worry and fear. In a panic, they have been known to plunge over the edge of a cliff. These traits reveal that sheep need a shepherd. As do we! Satan wants us to crash our lives as well (I Peter 5:8; John 10:10a). Men are spiritually blind and lost in sin and need the Great Shepherd (Lord Jesus Christ) to find them, save them, and show them the way through life. PRAYER: Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save and shepherd me. Thank You for always being there for me. In Jesus Name AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 5. Crown of Glory - Shepherds (I Peter 5:1-4)
I Peter 5:1-4, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. During the great Welsh revival it is said a minister was marvellously successful in his preaching. He had but one sermon, but under it hundreds of men were saved. Far away from where he lived, in a lonely valley, news of this wonderful success reached a brother preacher. Forthwith he became anxious to find out the secret of this success. He started out, and walked the long and weary road, and, at length, reaching the humble cottage where the good minister lived, he said: "Brother, where did you get that sermon?" He was taken into a poorly furnished room, and pointed to a spot where the carpet was worn shabby and bare, near a window that looked out towards the solemn mountains, and the minister said: "Brother, that is where I got that sermon. My heart was heavy for men. One evening I knelt there, and cried for power to preach as I had never preached before. The hours passed until midnight struck, and the stars looked down on a sleeping valley and the silent hills; but the answer came not, so I prayed on until at length I saw a faint grey shoot up in the east; presently it became silver, and I watched and prayed until the silver became purple and gold, and on all the mountain crests blazed the altar fires of the new day; and then the sermon came, and the power came, and I lay down and slept, and arose and preached, and scores fell down before the fire of God; that is where I got that sermon."—G. Campbell Morgan. This crown is promised for faithful pastors. This Crown will be won by those who study the Word of God as a pastor and feed the church of which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers. The word "feed" means not only to preach and teach the Word of God, but to tend and shepherd the flock. It means to act like a shepherd, to carry out all the duties of a shepherd. These duties include: to feed the sheep, even if he has to gather them in his arms and carry them to the pasture. To guide the sheep to the pasture and away from the rough places. To seek and save the sheep who get lost. To protect the sheep. He is even willing to sacrifice his life for the sheep. To restore the sheep who go astray and return. To reward the sheep for obedience and faithfulness. To keep the sheep separate from the goats. The minister is to lead people by living for Christ. He is to preach and teach Christ, but he is to, first of all, live a pure and righteous life just like Christ lived. The minister is to live exactly what he preaches. He is to be a pattern and model for Christ, a pattern and model of just what God wants His people to be. Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd and He is going to appear, that is, return, to earth. The idea is that nothing will stop His return; He is going to appear and reward His ministers. It is a crown of glory that never fades away. PRAYER: Father, I thank You for counting me faithful and putting me into the ministry. I’m grateful for the people You have entrusted me to feed and care for. Help me to always love them. In Jesus Name AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 4. Crown of Life – Sacrifice (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10)
James 1:12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. We have an appointment with the Lord someday. God help us to surrender our all to Him. There is a story that comes to us from India. A beggar saw a wealthy prince come toward him, riding in his beautiful chariot. The beggar took the opportunity and stood by the side of the road holding out his bowl of rice, hoping for a handout. To his surprise, the prince stopped, looked at the beggar, and said, "Give me some of your rice!" The beggar was furious. To think that this wealthy prince would expect his rice! Gingerly, he gave him one grain of rice. "Beggar, give me more of your rice!" In anger, the beggar gave him another grain of rice. "More please!" By now the beggar was seething with resentment and bitterness. Once again, he stingily gave the prince another grain of rice and then walked away. As the chariot went on its way, the beggar, in his fury, looked into his bowl of rice. He noticed something glitter. It was a grain of gold the size of a grain of rice. He looked more carefully and found two more. For every grain of rice he gave to the prince he received a grain of gold. If we clutch our bowl of rice, we shall lose our reward. If we are faithful and give God each grain, He gives us gold in return. The gold that God gives will survive His testing fire. This crown will be won by those who dare to go against the world, flesh and the Devil and do not yield to the power of temptations. We are to remain steadfast. God has a purpose for your trials. God will reward you with “a crown of life”. We are not to give up. Remember it is the fire that refines the gold. This involves persecution and martyrdom. When such a person has stood the test, he will receive the victor's crown. Beyond the cross of trial is the crown of life. This crown is promised and rewarded for those who persevere under trials, not for those who flee from them. Only trials can develop our patience. God had to try Joseph for 13 years before he could trust him on the throne. David went through many difficulties before God could put him on the throne. Do you love God enough to grow and stay strong in the trials of life? Complaining is a neon sign that we are lacking in maturity. Love looks at the promises and sees God as just. The strength to persevere under trials comes from the love of Christ. You might expect James to say, “the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who persevere,” or “to those who obey,” or “to those who believe in Him.” But rather, he says, “to them that love Him.” Why does he say this? Perhaps it is because love for Christ keeps us from loving the world. Love for Christ motivates us to persevere under trials. Our love for Christ does not exempt us from trials. Rather, it gives us the strength to persevere. PRAYER: Father, help me to lose my will that I may find Your will. Strengthen me to serve You and give me the wisdom that I may honor You with the choices I make. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 3. Crown of Righteousness – Seeking (II Timothy 4:5-8)
II Timothy 4:5-8, But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. In the 1987 NCAA Regional Finals, LSU was leading Indiana by eight points with only a few minutes left in the game. As is often the case with a team in the lead, LSU began playing a different ball game. The television announcer pointed out that the LSU players were beginning to watch the clock rather than wholeheartedly play the game. As a result of this shift in focus, Indiana closed the gap, won the game by one point, and eventually went on to become NCAA champions. While Jesus called us to be aware of "the signs of the times," he clearly called us to expend our energies in faithful, active service. As we await Jesus' promised return, we are not so much to watch the clock as to be diligent servants during the time we have available. Looking for His return. Love His appearing. Those who live in such a manner as to love for Christ to come will receive this Crown. There is a great reward that awaits those who finish well. The early believers were not looking for something to happen, they were looking for Someone to come. Looking for the train to arrive is one thing, but looking for someone we love to come on that train is another matter. When General MacArthur was driven out of the Philippines by the Japanese invasion, he said, "I shall return," and return he did. Before our Lord left this earth He said, "I will return..." (Acts 15:16), and return He will. When I studied arithmetic, I remembered that the answers were in the back of the book. No matter how I floundered among my problems, the correct solution was on the last page. I have failed often in working out life's problems, and I dwell in the midst of a people who are hopelessly trying to untangle the riddle of this present age. But I am cheered by one unfailing uncertainty—there is a Book that solves the enigma and the answer is in the back of the Book, "Behold I come quickly." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:12, 20)." What a wonderful day it will be when Jesus Christ rewards His children for their faithfulness! However, these crowns are not for our glory, but for His. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne (Revelation 4:10). As we faithfully run the race, we earn crowns to His honor and glory. Paul had put in his time. He had stayed faithful. He had hung in until the end. Here he is in prison awaiting execution. It is just about over and Paul could say without reservation that he had accomplished what God had called him to do. PRAYER: Father, help me to be faithful and focused as I run my course for Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 2. Crown of Rejoicing – Souls (I Thessalonians 2:19)
I Thessalonians 2:19, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? As an evangelist made his way across the states preaching in churches, he heard more and more of the testimonies of believer’s being converted in Sydney, Australia. He heard over and over of an elderly man who faithfully handed out Gospel tracts to people as they entered and exited from the subway. The evangelist was touched how that one man was making such an impact for the Lord in Sydney. The evangelist prayed that if the Lord ever gave him an opportunity to visit Sydney, he would meet this man and rejoice concerning what he was doing for the Lord. That prayer was soon answered and the evangelist, while in Sydney, crossed paths with the elderly man at the subway station. As the evangelist spoke of the success of his ministry, the elderly man was amazed for he had no idea of the impact he was making for the Lord. Imagine, someone who stood by the subway made such an impact for the Lord in leading souls to Him. At God's coming, we will experience the realization of our 'hope', supreme 'joy', and crown of rejoicing. We will soon be presented with this crown. The word crown refers to the reward given to the winner of a race. It would be similar to the awarding of a gold medal in the Olympic Games. Paul was declaring that the most esteemed prize in his trophy case was this crown for winning souls. Those who have won souls to Christ will be given this crown that is offered before Christ at the Judgment Seat. Paul’s greatest joy was leading people to Jesus. Paul’s reward for being a bold believer was neither fame nor fortune. His reward was people whose lives had been forever changed by God through his ministry. Those whom he led to Christ were his crown of rejoicing. Paul’s converts were also his glory, which means the honor of his life was winning them to Christ. His converts were also his joy. As the Lord’s servant, you are precious to the Lord and precious to someone else as well. God blesses those who serve Him and He allows His servants to participate in winning people to Jesus. What an awesome privilege He has given to His church! It’s been said that, “Surely there can be no deeper joy than that of saving souls”. When I get to heaven, I want to see the full impact of what I’ve done on earth. I want to look around and say, “I invested in her”; “I led him to Christ”; “I discipled and built them up.” One of the greatest joys that we shall ever know is the joy of seeing lives that God has allowed us to touch and help. The glory of any teacher is his pupils. The glory of any pastor is those who have come to know God through his preaching. When we stand before God at His throne, our crown of rejoicing will be those whose lives we have touched for Him. PRAYER: Father, give me the wisdom and power for winning souls. Help me to live a life that brings You pleasure, may I manifest Your love through my life, and cause others to see Jesus in me. In Jesus name, AMEN! Thank you for reading this devotion. This is PART THREE of this series. Please visit the website tomorrow for PART FOUR. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 1. Incorruptible Crown - Striving (I Corinthians 9:24-27)
I Corinthians 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. A discus thrower developed his skills alone in his highland village in Scotland. This was in the nineteenth century, before the days of professional trainers. He made his own discus from the description he read in a book. What he didn't know was that the discus used in competition was made of wood with an outer rim of iron. His was solid metal and weighed three or four times as much as those being used by his would-be challengers. This committed Scotsman marked out his field the distance of the current record throw and trained day and night to be able to match it. For nearly a year, he labored under the self-imposed burden of the extra weight, becoming very, very good. He reached the point at which he could throw his iron discus the record distance, maybe farther. He was ready. The highlander traveled south to England for his first competition. When he arrived at the games, he was handed the official wooden discus—which he promptly threw like a tea saucer. He set a new record, a distance so far beyond those of his competitors that no one could touch him. For many years he remained the uncontested champion. This crown is for endurance and patience in Christian life. Those who strive lawfully or walk according to the Scriptures in this life will receive this crown. We don’t know the weight of what our service for the Lord is carrying into eternity. But what we are storing up is greater than we can imagine. We don’t know the size of impact we are making for the cause of Christ. As long as we are remaining steadfast and unmovable, we know our faithfulness to the Lord is storing up treasures in Heaven. Without question, the best place to invest is in Heaven. No earthly investment opportunity can ever match the yield God will pay for investing there. No thieves can ever steal that investment. No downturn or economic crash will ever affect it. There will be a day in the future when all of our efforts, labors and sacrifices made in service for God will be remembered, recognized and rewarded. Whether anyone on this earth ever knows your name, you can be sure that God sees all that you have done and will greet you with the words, "Well done" (Matthew 25:21). PRAYER: Father, help me to devote myself to the cause of Your precious Son. As I continue on this journey, help me continue to be dedicated to Your plan. In Jesus name, AMEN! Thank you for reading this devotion. This is PART TWO of this series. Please visit the website tomorrow for PART THREE. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Crowns of a Christian (I Corinthians 15:58)
I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Sometime tonight, the Super Bowl LIV champion will be declared. This team will receive the Lombardi Trophy. The players on the 53-man roster and the entire coaching staff and the front office are given Super Bowl rings for their victory. There's no mistaking these rings, they stand out at a distance. You know what they are and you know what they mean, that person was part of a Super Bowl-winning team. Unfortunately, these will one day fade. However, for believer’s, there are crowns reserved in Heaven, that will never fade or be stolen. The success of our lives is determined by how well we see into eternity. The only way to see into eternity is through the Word of God. The better you see into eternity the better your life is going to be. Matthew 6:19-20, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: The greater thought is that whatever wealth we might accumulate is certainly subject to deterioration or theft. It is temporal. We ought to invest our lives in heaven where time and effort laid up is secure forever. The work and service done for Jesus Christ today is invested in heaven. Though God does not have a payday, as such, for service to Him now; when we get to heaven, there will be. Don’t be discouraged if it seems that no one notices your labors. One day God will give crowns of glory to those who love and serve Him. There will be a day in the future when all of our efforts, labors, and sacrifices made in service for God will be remembered, recognized and rewarded. Whether anyone on this earth ever knows your name, you can be sure that God sees all that you have done and will greet you with the words, "Well done" (Matthew 25:21). Service for Christ now will be rewarded someday then in heaven.
Points to Ponder: Without question, the best place to invest is in heaven. No earthly investment opportunity can ever match the yield God will pay for investing there. If you lay treasures here on earth eventually you will lose them – you can’t carry them with you. Questions to Consider: If you knew of a sure investment [that was full-proof] sure to pay off; would you invest in it? If someone you confided in knew of such a venture and never told you…wouldn’t you be disappointed in them? I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. This week, we will briefly view each crown. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Spiritual Bodyguard (Psalm 121)
Psalm 121, describes our God as One Who is a present help every step of the way we travel. Gaining help from God involves seeking help from God. The psalm begins with the psalmist seeking help from God for his troubles and trials. God is always with us, guiding us every step of the way. God has promised to provide stability and security for those walking in the center of His will (Psalm 16:8; 55:22; 91:1-4). Six times we are reminded that the Lord is able to take care of every problem we encounter (Psalm 121:3-8). None of the things that happen to you, none of the troubles you encounter, have any power to get between you and God, sap His grace in you, side track His will from you (Romans 8:28, 31-32). God’s children are always under His protection and watchful care (I Peter 1:5; Matthew 10:30-31). God guards our spiritual well-being from the time we receive Christ’s forgiveness and entrust our lives to Him until the time we leave this life to be with God forever. From justification (Romans 5:9) to the time of your glorification with the saints in heaven (I Corinthians 15:51-54), you are safe: " The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil." Even while we sleep, God is on duty. We can rest in peace because He is always awake. Our great Protector never sleeps. Our spiritual bodyguard is always on duty. What a blessed assurance! The thought is how that our God is never drowsy nor goes to sleep on the job. He is always there for the protection of His people. That was true for Israel when they were in the center of God’s will. It remains true for Christians in the center of His will. There is a great benefit in serving God and living our lives for Him. It means the providential protection of God is always at hand. When God saves our soul, He then preserves our salvation. It is He who keeps us and not ourselves. It is He who is our spiritual preservation. The only serious mistake we can make when illness comes, when anxiety threatens, when conflict disturbs our relationships with others is to begin to entertain the thought that God has gotten bored looking after us and has shifted His attention to a more devoted Christian. God’s desire and interest in us never waxes and wanes in response to our spiritual temperature. As you learn to trust in the LORD for direction it will take care of your proneness to wander wayward from His holy standards. It will keep you honest and pure in every professional and social contact. It will keep you mindful of the One to whom you belong and who you serve. It will guard you from many wrong steps in life where God’s name is debased and dishonored. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, at this time in my life, the struggles I’m facing (whether: physical, financial, social, etc.) I ask You to intervene in this situation. Right now, I don’t see a way out of it, but I know Heaven is my eternal home. The pains of this world are only for a season, but the joys of spending forever with You can never be taken away from me. Rather than staring down at life’s problems, help me to keep looking up to You for strength. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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