“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2–3, ESV)
When visiting the home of a family before Christmas, the youngest son in the family asked me to see their manger scene on the fireplace mantle. There, arranged around the decorations were Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, surrounded by shepherds, angels, and various animals. As nativity scenes go, this one was very detailed and absolutely stunning in quality.
The young boy who took me to the manger scene lived on a farm. His family tended sheep for generations. Not surprisingly, he asked me, “Did you know there were shepherds there when Jesus was born?” I knelt and told the boy that the Bible assures us there were indeed shepherds and sheep nearby when Jesus was born. He then added, “Jesus said we are like sheep. We follow Jesus like sheep follow the shepherd.” I was surprised by his insight. He was only eight or ten but already knew about the connection between Jesus and His followers, Jesus and His sheep. I then asked, “So, do you follow Jesus like a good sheep or a bad sheep? Do you listen to His voice when he calls you?” For five minutes straight, the boy talked excitedly about “doing stuff for Jesus” and being a good sheep/follower.
The scripture for today from the familiar Psalm 23 contains words about God in Christ being the Great Shepherd, and we, His sheep. That Psalm begins with the words; “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” You may have memorized these words as a child. You may have said them so many times that they easily roll of the tongue. The Psalm is about the Lord leading the sheep of His holy flock. You are one of those followers of Christ, so you are one of the sheep meant to know these words. The Lord is supposed to lead you, guide you. You are to follow the Great Shepherd. These two verses talk about what the Great Shepherd expects with respect to your relationship with Him. Let’s see if you have followed your Shepherd well, blessed child of the flock!
Psalm 23:2 teaches that the Lord, your Shepherd, will require you at times to “lie down in green pastures”, to get nourishing drink, and to “restore your soul”. For some who follow Christ, these are difficult words. Why? They do not like to lie down or back off the daily grind. They have a need or obsession to work or play too hard. And when the Lord calls the sheep to “lie down” because they need the break, these followers do not want to take needed time. They must go, go, go. They don’t want peace; they want to do something. They may be easily bored, see rest as laziness, have OCD, be workaholics, feel guilty when sitting, and more. They can’t comprehend the value of stopping, letting go, taking a breather, or partaking in sabbath rest. They can always be found overdoing it even when their bodies are screaming for a break…. even if the Great Shepherd asks for it.
Your body needs rest. In fact, it is necessary not only for good health but to stay alive! Without adequate sleep and rest, a person is more susceptible to illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, accidents, and more. Those who have a genetic disease called Fatal Familial Insomnia will be unable to sleep. The inevitable result of this genetic condition when left untreated is death. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, will remind you when to back off, take rest, ease your mind, and take needed down time. God knows you need rest and sleep or your mind and body and soul will suffer agonizingly. If Jesus wants you to work hard in His name, will you do it? When Jesus expects rest and sleep and recovery, will you also heed His command?
On Christmas morning, young Steven received various presents. His favorite was a handheld video game he had wanted for months. The game came with a built-in battery that allowed Steven to play the game anywhere. Steven’s mother hugged him as he opened the box with his game, telling him to charge the battery before playing. Steven barely registered her presence. He immediately went over to the couch to lay down and begin his game.
For an hour, Steven played, ignoring all the other presents and the family gathered. He was obsessed with the game. He was in the zone. Steven's mother called for lunch and again reminded Steven to charge the handheld. He set down the game, planning to charge it later, and ate lunch. Then, after shoveling down his food, Steven threw himself back into winning his new game.
After lunch, Steven and his family left for a family gathering at his grandparents’ home. Steven took along his favorite present, playing his handheld game while on the drive. He also played it more at his grandparents’ home, despite the urgings of his parents to take part in family time.
When Steven and his family returned that evening, Steven was playing his game in his room when the game abruptly crashed. The screen went blank. None of the buttons worked. He took the game to his parents yelling that something was wrong. It was then that his mother said, “Did you charge the batteries?” Steven sheepishly said, “I forgot!”. Steven’s father promptly took the handheld game away to charge it. On the way, he told young Steven, “By not giving your handheld game a rest while charging its batteries, you may have permanently damaged it. Why would you do that with such a nice gift?”
The boy hunched his shoulders and said, “I wanted to play it so bad!”
The father responded, “I just hope you didn’t permanently damage the battery in your rush to play and play and play!”
Come to find out, Steven did damage to that battery. Steven was forced to spend some of his birthday money to replace the battery that had been damaged by his overzealous need to play all Christmas day.
Your body and soul need time to rest and recharge, just like Steven’s battery. And like Steven’s battery, a body and soul that are pushed too long will become damaged… maybe permanently. God, your Great Shepherd, knows that you need time to “restore your soul”, as Psalm 23 explains. But when God calls you to rest and recharge, will you do it faithfully?
I have met pastors and priests who were overworked and burned out. It took a toll on their health and their ministry. I have met many Christians who overdid it one way or another, never taking time for their soul to catch up with their body. They played too much, worked too much, pushed too hard until something stopped working. For some, it ended in a heart attack. For others, their souls withered. For many, depression and anxiety took hold. Many ate too much, drank too much, and did all the wrong things in an effort to compensate.
When you see a manger scene this season, remember those shepherds. Remember that you are a sheep of the Good Shepherd. Remember to follow His lead, heed His voice, and rest your soul when required.
How well do you work hard when God asks you to work hard, and rest fully when God asks you to rest fully? If God asked you today, would you claim to be a good sheep or a bad sheep?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Holy Father, remind me to heed your voice and obey your word. Let me not wander from Your side. Call me back when I stray away. Do not let me become lost in the wilderness of this world!
I need your guidance. There is so much I do not understand about this world. Life is complicated. Decisions can mean life or death. The path ahead may be difficult to discern. May I be faithful enough to listen for your voice. I promise to set aside my pride to heed Your call. I promise to follow Your lead in all aspects of my life. Your are my Great Shepherd.
Around me, I see the faces of many who are struggling. Some are overworked. Some are lazy. Some are not committed. Some cannot see past their own passions, desires, or selfish wants.
Life is a precious gift, and yet many take it for granted. They do not take the time to cherish their blessings, offer up words of encouragement, or seek redemption. They are quick to become defensive, overly sensitive, prone to overspend, and addicted to entertainment. Even faithful people can work too hard when You desire them to rest. They may push to hard when You demand they rest their weary minds.
You are my Great Shepherd. I endeavor to obey Your voice and heed Your command. In Jesus Christ, may I work when called and rest my soul when needed. Amen.
The young boy who took me to the manger scene lived on a farm. His family tended sheep for generations. Not surprisingly, he asked me, “Did you know there were shepherds there when Jesus was born?” I knelt and told the boy that the Bible assures us there were indeed shepherds and sheep nearby when Jesus was born. He then added, “Jesus said we are like sheep. We follow Jesus like sheep follow the shepherd.” I was surprised by his insight. He was only eight or ten but already knew about the connection between Jesus and His followers, Jesus and His sheep. I then asked, “So, do you follow Jesus like a good sheep or a bad sheep? Do you listen to His voice when he calls you?” For five minutes straight, the boy talked excitedly about “doing stuff for Jesus” and being a good sheep/follower.
The scripture for today from the familiar Psalm 23 contains words about God in Christ being the Great Shepherd, and we, His sheep. That Psalm begins with the words; “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” You may have memorized these words as a child. You may have said them so many times that they easily roll of the tongue. The Psalm is about the Lord leading the sheep of His holy flock. You are one of those followers of Christ, so you are one of the sheep meant to know these words. The Lord is supposed to lead you, guide you. You are to follow the Great Shepherd. These two verses talk about what the Great Shepherd expects with respect to your relationship with Him. Let’s see if you have followed your Shepherd well, blessed child of the flock!
Psalm 23:2 teaches that the Lord, your Shepherd, will require you at times to “lie down in green pastures”, to get nourishing drink, and to “restore your soul”. For some who follow Christ, these are difficult words. Why? They do not like to lie down or back off the daily grind. They have a need or obsession to work or play too hard. And when the Lord calls the sheep to “lie down” because they need the break, these followers do not want to take needed time. They must go, go, go. They don’t want peace; they want to do something. They may be easily bored, see rest as laziness, have OCD, be workaholics, feel guilty when sitting, and more. They can’t comprehend the value of stopping, letting go, taking a breather, or partaking in sabbath rest. They can always be found overdoing it even when their bodies are screaming for a break…. even if the Great Shepherd asks for it.
Your body needs rest. In fact, it is necessary not only for good health but to stay alive! Without adequate sleep and rest, a person is more susceptible to illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, accidents, and more. Those who have a genetic disease called Fatal Familial Insomnia will be unable to sleep. The inevitable result of this genetic condition when left untreated is death. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, will remind you when to back off, take rest, ease your mind, and take needed down time. God knows you need rest and sleep or your mind and body and soul will suffer agonizingly. If Jesus wants you to work hard in His name, will you do it? When Jesus expects rest and sleep and recovery, will you also heed His command?
On Christmas morning, young Steven received various presents. His favorite was a handheld video game he had wanted for months. The game came with a built-in battery that allowed Steven to play the game anywhere. Steven’s mother hugged him as he opened the box with his game, telling him to charge the battery before playing. Steven barely registered her presence. He immediately went over to the couch to lay down and begin his game.
For an hour, Steven played, ignoring all the other presents and the family gathered. He was obsessed with the game. He was in the zone. Steven's mother called for lunch and again reminded Steven to charge the handheld. He set down the game, planning to charge it later, and ate lunch. Then, after shoveling down his food, Steven threw himself back into winning his new game.
After lunch, Steven and his family left for a family gathering at his grandparents’ home. Steven took along his favorite present, playing his handheld game while on the drive. He also played it more at his grandparents’ home, despite the urgings of his parents to take part in family time.
When Steven and his family returned that evening, Steven was playing his game in his room when the game abruptly crashed. The screen went blank. None of the buttons worked. He took the game to his parents yelling that something was wrong. It was then that his mother said, “Did you charge the batteries?” Steven sheepishly said, “I forgot!”. Steven’s father promptly took the handheld game away to charge it. On the way, he told young Steven, “By not giving your handheld game a rest while charging its batteries, you may have permanently damaged it. Why would you do that with such a nice gift?”
The boy hunched his shoulders and said, “I wanted to play it so bad!”
The father responded, “I just hope you didn’t permanently damage the battery in your rush to play and play and play!”
Come to find out, Steven did damage to that battery. Steven was forced to spend some of his birthday money to replace the battery that had been damaged by his overzealous need to play all Christmas day.
Your body and soul need time to rest and recharge, just like Steven’s battery. And like Steven’s battery, a body and soul that are pushed too long will become damaged… maybe permanently. God, your Great Shepherd, knows that you need time to “restore your soul”, as Psalm 23 explains. But when God calls you to rest and recharge, will you do it faithfully?
I have met pastors and priests who were overworked and burned out. It took a toll on their health and their ministry. I have met many Christians who overdid it one way or another, never taking time for their soul to catch up with their body. They played too much, worked too much, pushed too hard until something stopped working. For some, it ended in a heart attack. For others, their souls withered. For many, depression and anxiety took hold. Many ate too much, drank too much, and did all the wrong things in an effort to compensate.
When you see a manger scene this season, remember those shepherds. Remember that you are a sheep of the Good Shepherd. Remember to follow His lead, heed His voice, and rest your soul when required.
How well do you work hard when God asks you to work hard, and rest fully when God asks you to rest fully? If God asked you today, would you claim to be a good sheep or a bad sheep?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Holy Father, remind me to heed your voice and obey your word. Let me not wander from Your side. Call me back when I stray away. Do not let me become lost in the wilderness of this world!
I need your guidance. There is so much I do not understand about this world. Life is complicated. Decisions can mean life or death. The path ahead may be difficult to discern. May I be faithful enough to listen for your voice. I promise to set aside my pride to heed Your call. I promise to follow Your lead in all aspects of my life. Your are my Great Shepherd.
Around me, I see the faces of many who are struggling. Some are overworked. Some are lazy. Some are not committed. Some cannot see past their own passions, desires, or selfish wants.
Life is a precious gift, and yet many take it for granted. They do not take the time to cherish their blessings, offer up words of encouragement, or seek redemption. They are quick to become defensive, overly sensitive, prone to overspend, and addicted to entertainment. Even faithful people can work too hard when You desire them to rest. They may push to hard when You demand they rest their weary minds.
You are my Great Shepherd. I endeavor to obey Your voice and heed Your command. In Jesus Christ, may I work when called and rest my soul when needed. Amen.