Well, I hope each of you have had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.\u00a0 I can tell some of our folks have the January Blues already with the cold weather we have been having.\u00a0 Stay warm and Roll Tide tonight to all my fellow Bama fans!<\/p>\n
In our study of the 23rd Psalm phrase by phrase we find ourselves at David’s thought, “He Guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.\u00a0 Let’s dive in a see what this means and what kind of picture the shepherd David was painting for us through the power of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
There are two thoughts that we need to zone in on here.\u00a0 First off, the Psalmist David would have known that sheep are creatures of habit.\u00a0 Seriously, if left to themselves they will follow the same trails until they become ruts; graze the same hills until they turn to desert wastes; pollute their own ground until it is corrupt with disease and parasites.\u00a0 Sheep can not just “get along anywhere.”\u00a0 No other class of livestock requires more careful handling, more detailed direction than do sheep.\u00a0 This brings us to the second point that we need to focus on…many pastures are ruined beyond repair by overgrazing, poor management, and indifference or ignorant sheep owners.\u00a0 When this happens, sheep owners get a bad reputation or name.\u00a0 It was very important to a sheep owner to have a good name and reputation as a shepherd.\u00a0 David knew that if the flock was to flourish and the owner’s reputation was to be held in high esteem as a good manager, the sheep had to be constantly under his meticulous control and guidance.\u00a0 Due to the behavior of the sheep and their preference for certain favored spots, these well-worn areas become quickly infested with parasites of all kinds.\u00a0 In a short time the whole flock can thus become infected with worms, nematodes, and scab.\u00a0 The final upshot is that both land and owner are ruined while the sheep become thin, wasted and sickly.\u00a0 The owner’s entire name and reputation depends on how effectively and efficiently he keeps his charges moving onto wholesome, new fresh forage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The intelligent shepherd is aware of all this and has a plan of action.\u00a0 The predetermined plan of action usually centers around rotation from one grazing ground to another in line with right and proper principles of gound management.\u00a0 This is precisely the sort of action David had in mind when he spoke of being led in paths of righteousness.\u00a0 The testimony of a good shepherd will attest to the fact that following this plan of action is the one thing that commands more of the shepherd’s time and energy.\u00a0 He must map out his plan, constantly survey his fields, move his flock at the right times and repair fields that have just been used.\u00a0 One shepherd said with an adequate field you needed to move your flock to a new field every week.\u00a0 The shepherd must go over the ground of his fields again and again seeing where his flock will thrive and knowing where the feed is poor.\u00a0 One shepherd said that a point worthy of mentioning was that whenever the shepherd opens a gate into a fresh pasture the sheep are filled with excitment.\u00a0 As they go through the gate, even the staid old ewes will often kick up their heels and leap with delight at the prospect of finding fresh feed.\u00a0 How they enjoy being led onto new ground.<\/p>\n
Let’s look at some parallels between us and sheep now.\u00a0 It is no mere whim on God’s part to call us sheep.\u00a0 Our behavior patterns and life habits are so much like that of sheep it is embarrassing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
First of all, Scripture points out that most of us are a stiff necked and stubborn lot.\u00a0 We prefer to follow our own fancies and turn to our own ways.\u00a0 Isaiah 53:6 says it best, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”\u00a0 We do this deliberately, repeatedly, even to our own disadvantage.\u00a0 This is locked into our own personal pride and self-assertion.\u00a0 We insist we know\u00a0what is best for us even though the disastrous results may be self-evident.<\/p>\n
Just as sheep will blindly, habitually, stupidly follow one another along the same little trails until they become ruts that erode into gigantic gullies, so we humans cling to the same habits that we have seen ruin other lives.\u00a0 Turning to “my own way” simply means doing what I want.\u00a0 It implies that I feel free to assert my own wishes and carry out my own ideas.\u00a0 I do this inspite of every warning.\u00a0 Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”\u00a0 In contrast to which Christ the Good Shepherd comes gently and says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.\u00a0 No one comes to the Father except through me”\u00a0 John 14:6.\u00a0 John 10:10 Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”<\/p>\n
Second of all, most of us don’t want to come.\u00a0 We don’t want to follow.\u00a0 We don’t want to be led in paths of righteousness.\u00a0 Somehow it goes against our grain.\u00a0 We actually prefer to turn to our own way even though it may take us straight into trouble.\u00a0 Yet, Christ our Good Shepherd comes and says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).\u00a0 We don’t want to deny ourselves, give up our right to make our own decisions.\u00a0 I think some of us…or really most of us, if confronted with this charge, would deny it.\u00a0 We would say that we are “led of the Lord.”\u00a0 We would insist that we would follow wherever He leads.\u00a0 We sing songs to this effect and give mental asssent to the idea.\u00a0 But as far as actually being led in paths of righteousness is concerned, precious few of us follow that path.\u00a0 This is actually the pivotal point where a Christian either “goes on” with God or at which point he “goes back” from following on.<\/p>\n
The fact of the matter is there are many willful, wayward, indifferent, self-interested Christians who cannot really be classified as followers of Christ.\u00a0 There are relatively few diligent disciples who forsake all to follow the Master.\u00a0 Jesus never made light of the cost involved in following Him.\u00a0 In fact, He made it painfully clear that it was a rugged life of rigid selfdenial.\u00a0 It entailed a whole new set of attitudes.\u00a0 It was not the natural, normal way a person would ordinarily live, and this is what made the price so prohibitive to most people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If we are to be led in paths of righteousness then we need to adopt 7 fresh attitudes.\u00a0 They are the equivalent of progressive forward movements onto new ground with God.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 Instead of loving myself most, I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.\u00a0 What is love?\u00a0 Any ideas?\u00a0 Love according to this world is a soft, sentimental, moving and\/or passionate emotion.\u00a0 A feel good feeling.\u00a0 Love according to God’s Word is a deliberate act of my will.\u00a0 It means that I am willing to lay down my life, lay myself out, pour myself out on behalf of another.\u00a0 This is precisely what God did for us in Christ.\u00a0 “This is how we know what love is:\u00a0 Jesus Christ laid down His life for us” (I John 3:16).\u00a0 The moment I deliberately do something definite either for God or others that costs me something, I am expressing love.\u00a0 Love is “selflessness” or “self-sacrifice” in contradistinction to “selfishness.”\u00a0 Most of us know little of living like this or being “led” in this right way.\u00a0 But once a person discovers the delight of doing something for others, he has started through the gate being led into one of God’s green pastures.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Instead of being one of the crowd, I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang.\u00a0 Most of us, like sheep are pretty gregarious. We want to belong.\u00a0 We don’t want to be different<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Instead of insisting on my rights, I am willing to forego them in favor of others.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 Instead of being “boss”, I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap.\u00a0 Or to use sheep terminology, instead of being “top ram,” I’m willing to be a “tail-ender.”\u00a0 When the desire for self-assertion, self-aggrandizement, self-pleasing give way to the desire for simply pleasing God and others, much of the fret and strain is drained away from daily living.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 Instead of finding fault with life and always asking “Why?”\u00a0 I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude.\u00a0 I find it very interesting that we as humans feel entitled to question the reasons for everything that happens us.\u00a0 I know…I have been there myself.\u00a0 I have watched many who’s lives become a continious criticism and dissection of one’s circumstances and acquaintances.\u00a0 We look for someone or something on which to pin the balme for our misfortunes.\u00a0 We are often quick to forget our blessings, slow to forget our misfortunes.<\/p>\n
But if one really believes his affairs are in God’s hands, every event, no matter whether joyous or tragic, will be taken as part of God’s plan.\u00a0 To know beyond doubt that He does all for our welfare is to be led into a wide area of peace and quietness and strength for every situation.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Instead of exercising and asserting my will, I am willing to learn to cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will.\u00a0 When men or women allow their will to be crossed out, canceling the great I in their decisions, then indeed the Cross has been applied to their lives.\u00a0 This is the meaning of taking up one’s cross daily – to go to one’s own death-no longer my will in the matter but His will be done<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0 Instead of choosing my own way, I am willing to choose to follow in Christ’s way:\u00a0 simply to do what He asks me to do.\u00a0 This is basically simple, straightforward obedience!\u00a0 It means I just do what He asks me to do.\u00a0 I go where He invites me to go.\u00a0 I say what He instructs me to say.\u00a0 I act and react in the manner He maintains is in my own best interest as well as for His reputation (if I’m His follower).<\/p>\n
Most of us possess a formidable amount of factual information on what the Master expects of us.\u00a0 Precious few have either the will, intention, or determination to act on it and comply with His instructions.\u00a0 But the person who decides to do what God asks him has moved onto fresh ground which will do both him and others a world of good.<\/p>\n
Now, before you look back over these 7 things and begin to feel overwhelmed or think that you have to do all of these things yourself, I want to show you something.\u00a0 Some have concluded that the demands are too drastic or that this is impossible to actually live out on a day to day basis.\u00a0 Well, it would be if we had to depend on self-determination or self-discipline to succeed.\u00a0 But if we are in earnest about wanting to do His will, and to be led, He makes this possible by His own gracious Spirit who is given to those who obey (Acts 5:32).\u00a0 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.”\u00a0 Phil. 2:13 NLT.\u00a0 So you see, it is not you doing this it is Christ doing it in and through you.\u00a0 Rest in Him and in the good paths that He leads you in today.<\/p>\n
Dana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well, I hope each of you have had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.\u00a0 I can tell some of our folks have the January Blues already with the cold weather we have been having.\u00a0 Stay warm and Roll Tide tonight to all my fellow Bama fans! In our study of the 23rd Psalm phrase by phrase we find ourselves at David’s thought, “He Guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.\u00a0 Let’s dive in a see what this means and what kind of picture the shepherd David was painting for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. There are two thoughts that we need to zone in on here.\u00a0 First off, the Psalmist David would have known that sheep are creatures of habit.\u00a0 Seriously, if left to themselves they will follow the same trails until they become ruts; graze the same hills until they turn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,8,4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anewlifedesign.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}