Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Scripture: Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Devotional Thought:
Psalm 23 is one of the best-known passages of the Bible. It is from David, whom God calls a man after my own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22). It speaks of a soul in complete surrender; a relationship so deep with the Lord nothing of this world could ever shake, brake or destroy. David has confidence in his Saviour; his trust in God is incomparable. He reminds himself: I shall not want.
We are the sheep; Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. We shall not seek anything that could hinder or replace our relationship with the Saviour to the point of getting lost to the world. It is a relationship that cost Him everything. In his death and resurrection, however, Jesus Christ is present through the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to place complete confidence in our Lord regardless of circumstances, which these days can be overwhelming. Nothing can separate us from the love of God; not life or death; angels, demons or powers; present or future; height or depth (Rom 8:38-39, paraphrase).
As believers, we are challenged on all sides: culture, events, people, etc. Everyday brings a new set of circumstances and struggles. David, the man who showed his flaws firsthand, who struggled to keep alive in the face of great danger, never lost faith. He was marked by God, chosen and loved. We cannot forget our salvation. We are marked by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13); God loved us first (1 Jn 4:19). God will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5). We can trust God as David trusted and loved his Saviour. Our confidence can be seen in John Wesley’s last words: The best of all is, God is with us. (Parker, P., ed. Journal of John Wesley. Chicago: Moody Press, p.419.)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, continue to build in us an incomparable trust and confidence in you. We surrender all and declare again that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd in whom we believe. Forgive us for placing or replacing you with futility, or as Ecclesiastes states, with vanity. Renew in us a good spirit and sanctify us afresh.
In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen!
Andrée Pursey,
NTC Librarian
Nazarene Theological College