Today, Friday December 09
“I Shall Not Want”
Psalm 23
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Yea, 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 runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Before we can truly say that “The LORD is my Shepherd”, we must be able to genuinely say, “The LORD is my Savior!” Remember the previous chapter, Psalm 22 is all about the “Good Shepherd” Who gives His life of the sheep dying in their place for their sins. Jesus, the “Good Shepherd”, willingly laid down His life so that we could have eternal life and live an “abundant life”. (John 10). I have made this statement hundreds of times over the years at the funerals I have preached, that “to enjoy Jesus as your Shepherd, you must first know Him as your Savior.” Today, do you know Him as your Savior?
I often think that when we read the first words of Psalm 23, as if it is a reality to us, that we must be the biggest hypocrites in the world. Especially me! Goodness, living in this materialistic society, driven by “Madison Avenue”, we “want” everything we see advertised on internet and TV. We “want” the latest TV, the latest iPhone, the latest and fastest computer, the latest trending clothes and the latest car or truck that just came out. In America we are literally living in a “Rat Race”, trying to keep up with the Jones’ next door. We are buying things with money we do not have, to please and impress people we do not know, or in many cases do not even like.
What does it mean then that “the LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. First it means that when we have sincerely and genuinely made the LORD Jesus Christ the Savior and Shepherd of our souls, that He is our Master and Manager of our lives. It means we are totally confident in His management of our daily lives and have our greatest satisfaction in Him alone!
We have found that despite the challenges we face all around us, our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ always supplies the deepest needs of our souls. “He makes me lie down in green pastures”. That He always supplies me with confident and peace as “He leads me besides the still waters”. That He is always a “present help in time of trouble” and heals me and picks me up when I’m afflicted or hurt. “He restores my soul”. He is always there to guide me to the right choices and helps me stay away from those things that would bring great pain and hurt into my life. “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.”
Jesus made it clear in His New Testament teaching that you cannot serve two masters. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). So many people today have enough money to purchase whatever they want and yet they still want more. They are miserable, angry, agitated, discontented, worried, fretful, and lonely! Money, sin, and Satan has become their master and they will never satisfy their souls.
Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you”. Money cannot buy peace of soul. Money can never satisfy the deepest needs of your heart! But my friend, Jesus can and always will, if you truly make Him the Shepherd, the Master of your life, and follow Him with all your heart, mind and soul. You can be facing tremendous trials and persecution and even death, but you will find that if you have Jesus, you have “no wants” because He is your satisfaction!
God bless!
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