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The two ideas are tied together. The LORD is my Shepherd
I lack nothing
Living life with God as my Shepherd allows me to live in such a way that I lack nothing. Everything that is necessary for me to live the life of His kingdom is provided, not just at some future time, but now as we allow Him to lead and shepherd us. Heaven is not just something we experience some time in the future. Instead, we are invited to live in such as way that we begin to experience as much of the future in the present as we can.
So what does it mean to enter fully into the Kingdom now rather than waiting to enter it at some time in the future? That's what Pastor Jon explores with us as he invites to reflect on the opening verse of Psalm 23 in the sermon. If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can click here to access my sermon library.
Psalm 23 (TNIV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house
of the LORD forever.
Footnotes:
Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death
Other Passages for Reflection
on God as our Shepherd
of God as our Shepherd - and life in the flock
Jesus' description
of the Good Shepherd and life in the flock.
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
This is also the week that we celebrate communion together - taking the opportunity to remember just what being our Shepherd meant for Him, and what it means for us. Take a few moments to reflect on the significance of that shared meal against the backdrop of the imagery of this Psalm.
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