Psalm
23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He
makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he
refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
I heard these words so often at Primary School that
they are permanently etched in my head, even to this day. My teacher in P6 and P7 was a Mr McFadyen and,
if my memory serves me well, every day was begun with a hymn or psalm and a
prayer. I’m guessing that isn’t the case
these days. He taught us worship songs
that had good words and good tunes like ‘Who would true valour see’, ‘Onward
Christian Soldiers’ and the like, and I love all those songs of praise as much today
as when they were first taught in my last two primary school classes. Between that and Church and Sunday School and
the Boys Brigade, there were various ways that we were exposed to the gospel in
our younger years. I’m certain that when
the Lord looked down upon all the folks that were attempting to teach boys and
girls about the times he walked the earth along with all the Old Testament
stories, it would have been pleasing in his sight. How must he feel when he looks down on the
world today?
The things that are important to people have changed
greatly. The type of stories that hit
the headlines are different today than they were ten years ago never mind
twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or sixty years ago. I wonder what influences the media people
that write the headlines and if those same influences have something to do with
the changes in our society. If that is a
possibility, where exactly does the source of influence begin?
For people that are influenced to do good in this
world, we read in James 1:17, ‘Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from
God above’. If that is the case, then
what is it that influences people (from our neighbour to powerful corporations)
to do the wrong thing? Surely there is ample
evidence that there is a force for good and a force for evil in the world today
and yet the Christian churches that teach what is good are in decline. Who appears to be winning this battle in
today’s society?
We are driven to get bigger televisions, book more
exotic holidays, buy bigger cars yet if the Lord is our Shepherd, we lack
nothing. I prefer the promise of green
pastures, still waters and refreshment of the soul to a daily diet of reality
television, soaps and social media with the continual drip of adverts trying to
relieve us of what money we have. If we
hold to our Lord, he will keep us on the right path and we will go with Him to
wherever it leads.
Prayer –
Father of all grace and mercy, we
praise Your name for Your wonderful words of comfort and Your promise that
nothing can ever pluck us out of Your hand. Thank You that no matter what we
do, You will restore us and lead us along life’s path, for the honour of Your
name. Amen
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