Psalm 23 is one of the most popular psalms amongst Christians. Most of us have it memorized and have probably recited it many times over. It may look like an easy read but I invite you to join me as we dig deeper into all the treasures this psalm had for us.
The Lord is my shepherd. Who is the Lord?
Lord and Lordship are not very popular terms in our modern society. If you do watch old movies, you would have seen the concept captured. A lord gives direction, commands and others obey.
When you decide to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and confess Him as Lord, you make Him your Saviour. The fact that He is your saviour does not make Him Lord over your life. God respects the free will He’s given to man. He doesn’t Lord Himself on us even after we accept Jesus as saviour. Jesus can therefore be your saviour but not yet Lord in your life
The decision to make Him Lord comes when you decide to surrender every aspect of your life to His rulership and commands. When you surrender your will, your expectations, your ambitions and let me have absolute control over your life, that’s when He becomes Lord. As Lord, He now has your permission to direct you and lead you.
We see the nation of Israel demonstrate this several times in the old testament. When faced with war or an attack from their enemies, they would go seek God, they would not go to war without His word. Israel would wait to hear God’s direction through His prophets and get His instructions on how to respond. That’s Lordship. When you surrender to Christ as Lord, when you choose to wait in His instructions and directions, when you choose to live by His commands then you permit Him to be your shepherd.
Jesus cannot be your shepherd if He’s not yet your Lord.
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me] (AMPC). There are benefits to having Jesus as a shepherd. He takes on the responsibility of making sure we are fed, guided, and shielded. The only way to enjoy these benefits is by making Him your Lord. When He is your Lord, He has your permission and commitment to lead you, feed you, protect you and shield you.
You cannot enjoy the benefits of Jesus as a shepherd if He is not your Lord. He is first Lord then shepherd. If He doesn’t sit as Lord, He cannot function as your shepherd.
Most times we desire to get to the place where our cup overflows but we want to do that our way. We want the benefits of having Jesus as shepherd without the commitment of following Him. Today He says, if you’ll let me be Lord, I’ll be your shepherd and lead you to heights you never imagined. I’ll bring you to the place where your cup runs over.
I pray you surrender in areas where you’re still holding on to control and let Him be Lord
God bless
Obebi
