Thursday, November 27, 2014

November 27, 2014

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23

Every day was a day of thanksgiving for this sheep who had a Good Shepherd!

His Good Shepherd provides everything he needs and he is thankful!

His Good Shepherd pampered him and he is thankful!

Also, this sheep had a Good Shepherd who placed him on the proper path! - "He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."


Righteousness is a person - "He guides me....."


Righteousness means being right with God and there is only one way to be right with God and that is through the Person of Jesus Christ!


"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." II Corinthians 5:21


Who better to guide you in righteousness than the Righteous Shepherd?


What does this tell us?


Righteousness is a path - "....in paths of righteousness...."


"In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality." Proverbs 12:28



"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:11
"I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths." Proverbs 4:11

When you took your journey to your Thanksgiving destination, you didn't take the first road you came to or even the second, perhaps. You went to the right road because there is only one best way to get from where you live to where you are now.

Righteousness, by its definition and by its nature is exclusive. There is a right way and any other way is wrong. You must make sure you are on that right.

Righteousness is proof - "......for his name's sake."

When your Shepherd is righteous and walks on the path of righteousness, how would you be identified as one of His sheep?

A shepherd tags or brands his sheep to identify them as his. If he wonders off and is found, whoever finds the sheep will know who he belongs to and will know where to bring him back.

What brands a sheep belonging to the Good Shepherd is his righteousness! That righteousness is the "namesake" of his Shepherd!

This satisfied sheep is thankful to be lead by a righteous Good Shepherd!

Who are you following?

What path are you walking?