LIVING WITHOUT THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Dear Friends,
It was from Paul E. Miller (A Praying Life) that I was first confronted with the truth that I often live my day without the Good Shepherd. To see what it is like, to live life without the Good Shepherd, read Psalm 23, with the Good Shepherd removed. Here is how it looks. (Note, all references to Psalm 23 are from the ESV)
Psalm 23 Without the Good Shepherd
1 … my …; I shall … want.
2 … me … me …
3 … my soul … me …
4 … I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear … evil, … me; … me.
5 … me in the presence of my enemies; … my head … my cup …
6 … me … my life … I …
The Christian life is not moralistic, therapeutic or religious. It is not about your moral, religious or therapeutic striving. The Christian life flows from the message that God takes no delight in the death of a sinner, but that you would turn from your rebellious enmity and live. It is the message that “God does not weigh your merits but pardons your offences.” It proclaims that because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But once Christ Jesus has made you His own, you are called by God to press on, in your day-to-day life, further up and further in, into the life of the Triune God. But there is a problem. The world, the flesh, and the devil want you to have amnesia about the gospel, and live each day as if you do not belong to the Good Shepherd. Then you must live your day, your way, with your resources. It means you live your day as described by Psalm 23 when the Good Shepherd is removed. When you are young, or “successful”, or healthy, or well off, it may seem easy and natural to live ruled by “me, my, and I” - death, evil, and enemies, seem far off. But such a life is a recipe for turning into the human equivalent of a “black hole”. No life can be lived without coming face-to-face with fearful evil; being in the presence of enemies; and walking through the valley of the shadow of death. When you live with amnesia of the Gospel and without the Good Shepherd, then you complain about the absence of God; you wonder if the wisdom of the world will help you; you embrace distraction; you lower your expectations; you nurse despair; and you wallow in cynicism; all the while telling yourself that you are more realistic and wise in the Christian life than other Christians who believe the over-the-top promises of the 23rd Psalm.
But, the Christian life is to be lived with a growing, deepening, knowing, of the truth of the Gospel as day-to-day the Good Shepherd leads you. Notice how different life looks if during the day you pray the 23rd Psalm to your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Psalm 23 as a Prayer to Your Good Shepherd
Lord Jesus Christ, You are my Shepherd; I shall not want. You make me lie down in green pastures. You lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in paths of righteousness for Your 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 mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in Your house, Lord, forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and evermore shall be. Amen.
Note, praying and “pressing on” to live such a prayer under the mercy of God, in company with Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, is not naive, and does not mean you will not face hard times. The prayer realistically addresses the presence of evil, enemies, and death. However, to face such things as evil, enemies, and death, while gripped with the Gospel and led by the Good Shepherd, is like living in a different world, because you are beginning to die to being conformed to the world and are beginning to be transformed and renewed to walk in His will, as His child, for His glory, into eternity.
Please pray for me!
George+