Tag: shepherd

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Another look at the most familiar psalm

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by hani Pirzadian on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 23.

Here’s a few reflections on what may be the most well-known chapter of the bible.

“The Lord is my shepherd.” In an ancient culture, the job of shepherd was considered the lowest of occupations. It was the bottom rung, similar to an entry level position in the mailroom of a large corporation

That’s the job the Creator chooses to identify with. He chooses the minimum wage position in a world where everyone is scrambling to get ahead.

“I shall not want.” That could be confidence in God’s provision. Or it could be a choice, to be content with what God has provided. It’s not easy to put coveting aside in a world that continually markets new products.

“He restores my soul.” Soul restoration isn’t easy. It’s not just feeling better about yourself or about life. It’s about confession, repentance, and forgiveness. A restored soul is one drenched in God’s grace, covered in Christ’s blood, and restored to wholeness.

“For his name’s sake.” He doesn’t do this because of your performance or potential. He does it purely out of Fatherly goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness in you or me.

“Through the valley of the shadow of death.” Death is not a destination. It’s just part of the journey. It’s not the end of the road. By the grace of God, it’s the doorway to life.

“I will fear no evil.” Evil will always be present. Fear will not be, not when we know the one who is with us.

“Your rod and your staff.” These are the weapons of the shepherd. They ward off predators. They also discipline us sheep when we get off the path.

“Goodness and mercy shall follow me.” The shepherd leads us, but his goodness and mercy bring up the rear, too.

“I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” That’s our home. There’s a place for us.

No matter how many times I read this psalm, there’s always something new to meditate on.

Posted in church, Rant

Gone. Just gone.

Posted on by William Douthwaite

tegan-mierle-259584Jesus tells the story of a shepherd that leaves a flock of 99 to go in search of one sheep who wandered, who went missing, who didn’t show up for role call. The point is, God cares deeply about the lost. But does a real, live, genuine shepherd do that? Does that one sheep matter that much?

I’m thinking probably not. I’m thinking that he might not even notice losing one out of one hundred. A 1% loss n our investment? We wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.

But I find that I do fret, lose sleep, and puzzle over one family that suddenly vanishes from church life. For the purpose of these thoughts, it is a person who held several leadership positions in the church. It wasn’t a gradual disappearance. It was a sudden here today, gone tomorrow event. In the span of just one week — gone.

Yes, of course, I tried to find out what was going on. I called. I texted. I emailed. I wrote two letters, put them in envelopes, affixed a stamp to each one and mailed them at the post office. I had a face-to-face conversation with the person, and never found out why they no longer came to worship, carried our their responsibilities, participated in church life or even responded to my attempts to reach out to them. Other folks from the church reached out to them. Phone calls. Emails. Conversations. The response? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Nil.

OK, so when people began to stop following Jesus, he didn’t overreact. He simply asked his disciples, “Are guys leaving, too?” I guess he knew it would happen. He knew that everyone would abandon him. He knew that he wouldn’t win the popular vote or a popularity contest.

So why does it bug me so much? Is it because of all the time and energy I put into that family? Is it because of my own ego and wanting to see the church grow because that makes me look like a good pastor? Is it because I overestimated their commitment? Is it because of something else entirely unrelated to me?

IDK. I have no idea. I guess the only thing I know is that in good or in bad, it’s not about me. It’s about Jesus. He is the one I should pursue, think about, and talk about. He’s the boss.

I can’t remember where I read it, but it is a good reminder of what this is all about. Jesus wasn’t a cowboy, driving his herd into heaven. He was a shepherd, leading his flock.

That’s all I’m trying to do.