“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
Sheep are interesting creatures. From birth, lambs learn to follow the other members of their flock, even if it is dangerous. The “following” instinct of sheep is so strong that if led down a path that could be fatal to them, they will follow to their death. The responsibility of a shepherd is to lead his flock safely to “green pastures and still waters” (Psalm 23:2).
If we allow God to be in our lives, He promises to lead us in our daily walk. As it says in Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in His way.” The key to the fulfillment of this verse is following God as He leads.
It really boggles my mind to think that our Shepherd is an almighty God who does not force Himself on us when He easily could. Instead, He waits for an invitation from us to become the Shepherd of our lives. Then, and only then, will He show us and lead us in the paths of His righteousness. We then have a choice as to whether or not we will follow His path or go astray.
Psalm 16:11 also tells us that at God’s right hand are “pleasures for evermore.” What are those pleasures? Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” The pleasures are the desires of the heart that become known when we delight in the Lord. But the verse also mentions the “right hand of God.” What does that mean? According to Romans 8:34, Jesus, the Son of God, is at the right hand of God Himself. Jesus is the source of our joy (1 Peter 1:8)! A relationship with Jesus gives meaning to our lives. It is He who brings joy even in the midst of difficult times. The latter part of Psalm 30:5 states “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” No matter what we face, our lives are more blessed when we belong to Christ.
I have never met one person who ever regretted accepting Jesus’ forgiveness of sins and having Him as their Saviour. Why? Because it is only through Christ that we can have joy in the midst of sorrow; it is the only way we can have peace in a world of turmoil, and it is the only way we can have the promise of eternity at God’s side in His heaven.
Many years ago, when I asked Jesus to become my Saviour, my sins were forgiven, and I became a lamb in His flock. I chose Jesus as my “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), but I did not always follow Him; sometimes I wandered from the safety of His “path of life.” The “fullness of His joy” was then hard to find, but He always sought me out and brought me back to the safety of His fold (Luke 15). His Word continually reassures me that I am His, and He is mine… forever!
One day long ago, I chose to be a sheep and follow Jesus. One day in the future, I will be in the presence of my Shepherd, face-to-face, and I will bask in His pleasures for evermore!
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
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Life is full of choices. It takes wisdom to make the right ones. And wisdom… well, that’s found in the Word of God. Take time today to read the Bible, and make the best choice ever… Jesus!
Thank you for sharing these thoughts. Truly it is a blessing to be “sheep of his pasture,” where I am loved and cared for daily. “And I shall see Him, face to face, and tell the story, SAVED BY GRACE.” Hallelujah!