He restores my soul . . . (Psalm 23:3)
The good shepherd puts upright those
sheep that fall and cannot get back on their feet. One shepherd says that sheep
will also stray into private gardens and vineyards. If an owner of such places
finds a sheep on his land, the sheep becomes his property. Therefore, “He
restores my soul” also points to the way God brings His sheep back when we
stray into dangerous territory.
I’ve two kinds of straying. One is when I
deliberately wander into something I should not. Foolish me. The other is more
like being grabbed and pulled where I do not want to go. For the latter, I cry
for help and God is right there to pull me out of danger.
The other is more complicated. God gives
me a new nature and the mind of Christ. I am supposed to live by this amazing
grace which involves a choice. I’ve had times when the choice was easy. I’m not
drawn at all by stealing, murder and several other sins, but there are a few
that more easily tempt me. The Bible tells me what I need to do to stay out of
those dangerous places . . .
Put off your old self, which belongs to your
former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be
renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after
the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put
away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we
are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down
on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:22–27)
Lying to a neighbor or going to bed angry
give the devil “opportunity” to have power over me. I’m usually not guilty of
these two examples, but can wander into other forbidden thoughts, emotions,
speech or actions. This is a simple diagnosis. It is sin, an undisciplined
spirit. It is putting myself in a place where my life is threatened to become
the property of my spiritual enemy. Like the people of God fleeing Egypt, my
enemy says, “I will pursue, I will
overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I
will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.”
Reading those words makes me shiver. Satan
does try to destroy me. I don’t want that to happen, but like a silly sheep, he
lures me. Sometimes when I know the danger, I go anyway. But I don’t have to
let the old self rule, or put myself into the devil’s territory. God has given
me the resources to escape those wandering ways. He comforts me with what He did
for His people threatened by the Egyptian army: “You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in
the mighty waters.” (Exodus 15:9–10)
I’m sitting here confessing my stubborn
foolishness and dangerous choices. However, I cannot keep from straying without
the care of my Savior, and must call out to Him as did the psalmist who said .
. .
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead
Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth . . .
. Stir up your might and come to save me! Restore me, O God; let your face
shine, that I may be saved! (Psalm 80:1–3)
The Lord is my
Shepherd; I shall not want!
No comments:
Post a Comment