PORTRAITS OF GOD: THE SHEPHERD

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Ps.23:1).  

This is one of the most precious of portraits hanging in the gallery of God. The author, David, grew up shepherding his father’s flock. He drew from that imagery to remind us of how God cares for us. We are God’s flock.  How He loves His lambs!

We shall not want in life—The Shepherd feeds us in green pastures and leads us beside still waters, restoring our soul. The Lord always guides us on the right path, for our good and the glory of His name.

We shall not fear in death—He walks with us through that dark valley.  As we come to the end of life, the Shepherd that has faithfully been near will not abandon us then. He will bring us through!

We shall not perish in eternity—dwelling in the Lord’s house forever.  How long is that?  To be in a place of breathtaking beauty, and supremely, to be in the manifest presence of our Shepherd, safely in His fold—that is something to joyfully anticipate!

FIGHTING FAMILIES: The Company We Keep

Read Proverbs 13:20. 

“A man is known by the company he keeps,” is the old saying. Another form of that is, “Birds of a feather flock together.”  The fact is that our close companions are so influential—and that is true to Scripture. 

Sadly, Solomon did not practice what he preached.  He told his son to surround himself with the wise and shun association with the foolish, but instead brought many heathen women into his home that turned his heart from God. His son, Rehoboam, therefore, did not heed this warning. When wise counselors sought to guide him, he chose to listen to his friends in their folly. The results were not only personal failure, but destructive to the nation he ruled. 

We are influenced by our environment for good or bad. While only heaven will bring absolute freedom from evil, we still need to minimize those influences which lead to wickedness and maximize the ones that lead to holiness. As parents, we need to model this and instruct our children accordingly.

What children take into their hearts and minds will make a big difference. Music, movies, media, books, magazines, websites, and their relationships with friends and those they date will be uplifting or destructive. Their “companions” need to be  godly influences.

These are discussions we must have. We cannot be with our children at all times, so we must guide them into discernment—helping them to identify and choose that which edifies rather than harms. Eventually, they will have more and more freedom, and young people must be taught who they should spend time with and those they must avoid. Giving them too much liberty, too soon, without direction is deadly. Sheltering them too long, and suddenly sending them into a hostile world without gradual freedom to choose can be harmful, as well.

As parents, grandparents, teachers, and other adults, left us recognize this powerful principle, making sure we choose proper influences and then help children and teens choose likewise. God, give us wisdom and perseverance in this evil age!

A FRESH START: Life Lessons

Read Proverbs 4:10-27.

The home is the classroom of life and parents have been designated by God as the instructors. Grandparents are to reinforce those truths and the church is to offer encouragement, enablement of parents through equipping and resourcing, then, supplement the discipleship process. Solomon shows three targets of this instruction.

Show the PATH TO TAKE.  “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. ... Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.” (v.10-11, 14‬). Our children must be steered in the right direction. We must show them the way of wisdom in the pattern we show and the principles we share. It is vital that we do more than tell them what to do, but explain why they ought, so when they must make decisions later, they will know the path to take.

Explain the PEOPLE TO AVOID.  “Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.” (v.14‬). The children’s peers will have a tremendous influence on them.  We must help them identify the characteristics of people who will bring destructive influences into their lives. Our more developed spiritual radar needs to help us keep them safe from such.  There is to be careful guidance to help them care for sinners in loving them without conforming to sin by joining them.

Reinforce the PURPOSE TO EMBRACE. “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (v.23‬). More than the conduct of a child, their heart is what we are to aim for. If we help them embrace God’s purposes in their heart, then they will choose God’s path for their feet. Failing to win their heart means we will lead them to be: moral hypocrites, who outwardly are religious, yet inwardly are self-righteous or eventual rebels, that as soon as they escape parental supervision run in the direction of their sinful heart.

“Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.” (v.26-27‬). Are we hitting the target?

CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE? The Experiential Testimony, Part 1

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and the evidence of lives transformed by truth adds weight to the Bible’s claims.  When we add this to our previous lessons concerning the logical rationale for believing the Bible and the internal and external evidence to back it up, there is every reason to answer, “Can I trust the Bible?” with a resounding, “Yes!” 

Consider first THE MIRACULOUS POWER OF SCRIPTURE PROMISED.   Psalm 19:7-11 presents ten promises of the power of the Word of God.  We will look at the first five today.

1.  IT CONVERTS THE SOUL.  The Bible is perfect—complete—nothing needing to be added or amended, subtracted or retracted.  Though it doesn’t tell us all there is to know, or want to know, it tells us all we need to know.  Its power is to convert—to change us—from sinners to saints.  That is an ongoing process which the Scriptures accomplish in us.

2.  IT TEACHES THE SIMPLE.  It is sure—infallible—and will impart the very wisdom of God!  The word “simple” in the original language is rooted in a term for a door.  A simple person has the door of the ears open to everything so that whatever deception or delusion is given access.  The Word of God enters and closes the door.  Then it only opens to the sweet friend of truth and is locked to the knock of the evil foe of error.

  

3.  IT REJOICES THE SPIRIT.  The Word is right, and it is our joy to hear and heed it.  Sorrow comes when we get life wrong.  Wrong decisions lead to wrong directions and ultimately to wrong destinations.  Hell is the ultimate end of those who get life wrong—a place of unimaginable sorrow.  On the other hand to get life right is to experience joy here and hereafter!  That will bring unending rejoicing.  The Bible marks the right path.

4.  IT ENLIGHTENS THE EYES.  The Scriptures are pure, giving clarity—light to navigate this dark world.  Part of my morning ritual is to clean my glasses before I head out to face the day.  I want to be able to see clearly.  You would not want to see me coming down the road without my glasses.  Everything would be a fog.  A wreck would surely ensue.  When we put on our Bible glasses, God’s Word gives us an always clean lens by which we see things without blurred vision.  Our eyes are enlightened by it.  They even make the invisible things of the spirit world visible!

5.  IT ENDURES THE CHALLENGES.  It is clean—a Holy Bible—and despite all the challenges of the wicked it endures.  Satan’s persistent attack has always been against the Word—doubt and denial.  Recall when the serpent beguiled Eve in the garden, he approached her first with a question to cause doubt, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat...’ ” Then, when she continued the debate, he uttered a denial, “You will not surely die!”  The devil has not changed his modus operandi.  He does not need to; it has been so effective.  Yet, despite all the critics and their assaults, the Word endures!  People may falter, but Scripture will not fail.

GOD LEADS US ALONG

Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?  (Psalm 56:13b)

“God leads His dear children along.”  That’s what the old hymn says—that message thoroughly attested by Scripture and affirmed by our experience.  The way He leads us, however, may be at times perplexing.  The road of life is filled with many twists and turns; we cannot see but a portion of the road before us, so we must trust God who knows the destination where He intends to bring us.  That’s what David discovered on his journey of faith.  It is the testimony of Psalm 56.

Our path does not take us through a playground, but a battleground (v.1-4)!  So long as we are in this world, we will find ourselves in a fight.  Our environment is hostile to faith.  David—a man of war—would say, “Amen!”  The introduction to the Psalm tells us it was written, “When the Philistines Captured Him in Gath.”  Gath was the hometown of the giant Goliath whom David had slain.  David was running for his life from King Saul.  In a moment of panic, he fled into Philistine territory, and ended up in a place where the people would delight to kill him—out of the frying pan and into the fire!  Yet, even so, God had a purpose for David’s life.  We may wish for the: “shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet…Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet…Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright…” and yet find ourselves, “sometimes in the valley in darkest of night that God leads His dear children along.”

We may survive the frontal assault and succumb to the surprise attack (v.5-7).  There were those who would not dare to attack David to his face, but would stab him in the back—distorting his words, organizing opposition from the malcontents, and setting snares to trap him.  This broke his heart and drove him to the One he could trust, as David cast himself on the promises of God (v.8-11).  The hymn writer put it this way:

Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Some through the water, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.

God knows every step we take through dark seasons.  He sees every tear we shed as we walk through deep sorrows.  According to David, God stores the tears in His bottle and records them in His book!  He is mindful of our tears and trials.  He does not exempt us from traveling the trail of tears, but He promises grace that is sufficient for the journey now and that our destiny will end in glory.

David expressed confidence that the Lord would establish His feet in the right path and on solid ground (v.12-13).  He always had; He always would. 

Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity’s day,
God leads His dear children along.”

The trip may bring many changing conditions in the terrain—sudden storms can break upon us—but one condition never alters—we get there, “all through the blood.”  The One who died for us, while never desert us.  He will deliver us!

THE WEALTH OF WISDOM

Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. (1 Kings 3:9a)

Many pursue that which they will never achieve and even if they did attain it, has no enduring worth.  It is of this material universe and Scripture tells us that all that is of the world is passing away.  But to pursue God’s wisdom is to find wealth that extends into every area of life.  Solomon obtained this wisdom and so may we.

Solomon was smart enough to know he wasn’t smart enough.  Imagine getting a blank check from God.  He did and notice how he filled it in.  In humility, he acknowledges his need.  He basically says, “I don’t know if I’m coming or going!”  Solomon displays the fear of God.  Scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  He had a love and desire to serve the people that demanded wisdom to succeed.  He knew the work was too great for him.  God delights to answer such prayers.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God”  (James 1:5a).

The reason wisdom is so valuable is that it touches every dimension of life.  Wisdom is not mere knowledge.  Knowledge puffs us up the Bible says (1 Cor.8:1).  Wisdom is the ability to take knowledge and apply it in practical ways, especially in the moral realm.  It enables us to understand God’s ways, which are often 180 degrees from man’s ways.  Being rich in wisdom enables you to prosper in other facets of life.  No wonder Solomon advised above all, “Get wisdom” (Prov.4:7).

God gives Solomon discernment.  He is able to make wise decisions.  Solomon desired to administer justice and reign effectively and he does by the gracious gift of wisdom.  The people now respect his leadership ability.  To have a title is not the same as being a leader.  How we need good judgment in leaders—whether in government, the home, business or the church.  Life is about choices and we face them constantly.  Seek God’s guidance.  That’s the key to being successful.

Solomon’s leadership was established.  He shows wisdom in his great organizational skills (1 Kings 4:1-28).  He delegates responsibilities (v.1-7).  Not even a man as wise as Solomon had all the answers.  He needed help.  Wisdom leads us to secure partners.  He gathers resources (v.20-28).  You can’t do a job without the tools required.  A wise leader knows what resources are needed and where to secure the resources needed to get the job done.  The results of all this was a kingdom at peace.  Delegating responsibilities and determining resources will help the leader have peace of mind.  Burn out comes from trying to carry the entire load.  The Apostles recognized this wouldn’t work in the early church (see Acts 6:1-7).  It still won’t.

The king didn’t have to send out a press release trumpeting that he was the wisest man in the world (1 Kings 4:29-34).  The results spoke for themselves.  If we make good decisions and provide good leadership, we don’t have to promote ourselves.  The boss will notice.  The voters will respond.  The church will acknowledge.   We’re not after a title but a testimony.  Ultimately God gives the final accounting.

How we need wisdom!  Ask God like Solomon did.  Stop pursuing earthly wealth and pursue eternal worth—the wealth of wisdom.  God has a treasure chest in His Word.  We are promised to prosper in every way if we meditate on it continually.  Get started now!

PRODUCTIVE PARENTING

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.  (Proverbs 22:6)

What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own family?  When I get to heaven, I want to see every member of my family there.  Succeeding in every area of life, but home life is failure.  It is true that no matter what we do, every individual must make their own decision about following Christ.  We cannot do it for them.  Sadly, sometimes even the best parents see an adult child become a prodigal.  Yet, our hope is to apply the principles in God’s Word that show us God’s way to productive parenting.

Observe THE DISCIPLINE OF PRODUCTIVE PARENTING, “Train up….”  The Hebrew term refers to the mouth.  In the verb form, it was used for the training of a wild stallion.  Before the fiery steed could be directed, its stubborn will must be broken, as a bit is put into the mouth and the animal is taught submission.  Another way the term was used was when the Jewish baby was born, the midwife would dip her fingers into the juice of crushed dates and rub the sweet liquid on the baby’s gums.  The infant would begin to suck and brought to the mother to nurse him or her.  Thus, there is a positive and negative dimension of discipline.  The corrective element is to curb godless drives, like a wild horse that needs to be broken.  Scripture says much about correction (Prov.3:11-12; 5:11-13; 10:17; 19:18; 20:30; 22:15; 23:13-14).  There is also, the constructive element meant to cultivate good desires, like the midwife creating a desire for milk in the baby.  We want to inspire a hunger and thirst for righteousness in them by the example in our walk and their education from the Word.

Consider THE DURATION OF PRODUCTIVE PARENTING, “a child…when he is old….”  From their birth until adolescence, we have a brief window of opportunity to shape the clay while it is still pliable.  The word, “old” in Hebrew is, “bearded,” indicating that by the time a youth reaches puberty the window for significant impact will close.  This requires effort.  We have to be taught to drive a car, study to gain an education, train to be an athlete, and labor to develop a skill.  Nothing worthwhile in life comes easy.  Parenting requires education, effort, and endurance.  Our job isn’t done until we push them out of the nest and they can take flight.  This is not an easy task.  Do you not think the only perfect parent—our Heavenly Father—doesn’t have a challenge with children like us?  He faithfully works, however, to bring us into maturity.

Note THE DIRECTION OF PRODUCTIVE PARENTING, “in the way he should go….”  Not in my way, or the world’s way, but in God’s way—that is the direction we chart for the child.  The word means, “according to,” and suggests the uniqueness of each child—their own aptitudes and personalities—requiring flexibility in our methods.  We can’t use a cookie-cutter.  Children are not clones.  We develop them to achieve all their God-given potential.  They are God’s possession on loan to us (Ps.127:3a).  They are God’s prize rewarded to us (Ps.127:3b).  They are given as a power to be unleashed by us (Ps.127:4-5), and they become productive in following us (Ps.128).  We lean on the Lord to found and fortify the family (Ps.127:1-2) or our efforts will be in vain. God help us!

LIFE LESSONS

And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:  (Genesis 49:1)

If you are taking a trip somewhere that I have been, you are wise to listen to me before you travel.  I can tell you the best road to take, good places to eat, where to stay, and what to see.  If there are places to avoid, I can warn you.  We have the experiences of spiritual pilgrims recorded in Scripture.  “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  (1 Cor.10:11)  There are life lessons from Jacob’s prophetic blessing in Genesis 49.

Reuben was commended for his strength (v.3), but condemned for his lack of stability (v.4), which led to immoral sensuality.  We are warned of being, “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)  Such are bound to trip and fall.

If Reuben’s problem was instability then Simeon and Levi’s was cruelty (v.5-7).  Rather than controlling their anger, it dominated them.  “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  (James 1:19-20)

Judah would rise to sovereignty (v.8-12).  His would be the line from which the kings would come—and ultimately the King of kings, the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ.  Since we are heirs with Christ, then we shall reign with Him also (read Rom.8:17; Rev.22:5).

Zebulun and Issachar teach us about opportunity (v.13-15).  Zebulun would seize it, and Issachar would shun it.  Dwelling by the sea, Zebulun’s heirs would master commerce.  Issachar’s strength gave great potential, but indifference led to enslavement.  God gives us such wisdom in His Word about financial matters, but too often, “the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” (Luke 16:8b)

Dan warns us of duplicity (v.16-18).  He is pictured as a serpent lying in wait, striking the unsuspecting.  In this he is like his spiritual father—the Devil.  Our only hope to escape the same sin and sentence is to cry out to God for salvation (v.18).

Gad, Asher and Naphtali will experience victory and exhibit prosperity (v.19-21).  So should we: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Cor.2:14). ‎

Joseph’s life lesson instructs us in purity (v.22-26).  His painful experiences were God’s pruning to prepare him for fruitfulness.  They had a refining quality that molded his character into a vessel God could us.  A sanctified life is one God delights to bless.

Benjamin teaches us about activity (v.27).  Morning and evening would find him on the move.  His productivity would lead to prosperity.  God never blesses laziness!  Do we, like Benjamin, have an appetite to achieve?

As you look into the mirror of God’s Word here, what do you see about your life?

COMMITTED TO THE CALL

 

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday.  (Psalm 37:5-6)

It was the summer of 1976.  My wife and I had been seeking God for His direction in our lives.  He was stirring us—but to what end?  There was much we were doing in church, but always a nagging thought that there was something more He wanted.  In the old open-air auditorium at Ben Lippen Conference Center, we went to hear the late Stephen Olford preach.  That night he took his text from Psalm 37:5-6 and issued an invitation to commitment to God’s call.  My wife and I signed a card, “Lord Jesus, anything, anywhere, anytime—I am ready!”  Although I have fallen short at times of this, it has been my consistent goal.  What does this text say about our commitment to the call of God—whether that is to be a missionary, a pastor, a secretary, a salesman, or a factory worker—whatever?

We fail when we make our plans, pray for God to bless them, and then wonder why things don’t pan out.  What we must do is commit ourselves to God’s plans and then we will have His blessing.  It comes down to faith.  Do I trust Him?  God has not promised to do what I want, but that He wants me to do what He wills.  Wisdom is to bring myself into alignment with His purposes and not to try to persuade God that my agenda is worth His favor.  God’s train is moving down the tracks.  He invites me to get on board.  I could decide to get in front of that train and seek to derail it—and that is madness!

This could be the dawn of a new day.  The righteousness of God could radiate from us as we walk with the Lord in the light of His way.  The justice of our cause will be established in the submission of our course to His roadmap.  It will be as clear as the sun at high noon can reveal it.  What brought me clarity in my calling?  It was commitment first!  I had wrestled with the specific assignment He had for me, but couldn’t gain confidence in any particular area.  I didn’t grasp that what God wanted was not my ability, but my availability!  When I made the commitment, He filled in the details.  When I yielded to anything He wanted, within a week I knew the one thing—I was called to preach the Gospel.  Commitment to that call has sustained me through some dark valleys of discouragement and carried me through many deep waters of difficulty.

We all can think of many opinions.  Others feel free to give many opinions. “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.”  (Prov.19:21)  What we must do is find that singular focus—an understanding of God’s call for us.  Any other path we chart turns to quicksand.  There is solid ground on God’s straight and narrow road.  Commit to His call today, or renew your commitment made long ago.  You’ll be glad you did!