The Sheep Keeper
One of the things I remember growing up in a Christian home was how to recite 2 things;The Lord’s prayer and Psalm 23. With little or no knowledge of the value of this scripture, I recited them over anything and everything and slowly,they became almost valueless to me.
‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ was the theme of April 2010 Esthers Retreat organised by the Womens Ministry in Jesus House. The venue I must say was ideal for the theme as it was set in a vast acre of land with trees, ponds and still waters, caves, rabit holes, thick bushes and elevated lands.
Pastor Funke Adeaga, pastor in charge of Esthers Ministry and along side the most amazing women I have come to know, meditated and discussed on Psalm 23 all through the 3 days experience in Sunnigdale Park. Everyone of us had pure revelation of this glorious Psalm. One thing worth noting is the fact that the previous chapter, Psalm 22, reveals what David was going through before he wrote Psalm 23. Likewise, we are at various points in our walk with the Good, Great and Chief Shepherd,but we know that even though we pass through Psalm 22, we end up in Psalm 23 where we are assured of RESTORATION even in the presence of enemies. David wrote this psalm from an encounter so deep and personal with God and definitely knew what he was talking about because of his profound experience with our maker.
The Sheep Keeper looks after his sheep, he annoints them with oil to chase away predators, he corrects and directs with his rod and staff, he keeps watch through the rough and dangerous terain as he sees far into the woods than the sheep can ever see, he cares and even tends to those sheep with youngs as well as providing green pastures, all this he does for his name sake.
The Shepherd takes his job seriously, its time we take our role as sheeps seriously and fully rely on his leadings. As most will know or soon find out, there is really no other way out.
Dead amongst the living
A time like this we should reflect on our visions, purpose and existence. Are they all grasping for the wind? Do they have a meaning in eternity? or are they all to sooth every desire we feel in our heart? I once read an outstanding statement that said “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?”
As the world celebrates Easter, we should think of our foot prints in this life because we leave a series of foot prints daily. Seated in the congregation of Foundation of Truth Assembly, a Lagos church lead by Rev Yomi Kasali, I was made to rethink the purpose of our existence. Earlier on in the week, a team of 5 of us had come from the UK to support an NGO called 5 Loaves, 2 Fishes which focuses on feeding the poor, clothing the naked and free medical care. Instinctively, the church that runs the NGO was our obvious choice to attend service on what the world calls Easter Sunday.
The message today was quite simple and piercing, and focus was on the fact that we should stop looking for the dead amongst the living. Stop looking for the dead things of this world amongst the living word of God and start living a full life with a loving relationship with God.
I concluded that we should approach Christ and the church with absolute sincerity, eagerness to be close to God rather than the things He can give us, interest to pursue a loving and obedient relationship with Him rather than just the things He can give us, a life of sacrifice staying according to His covenants and expectations of us rather than the things He can give us, a life of worship, love, heavenly purpose and the practice of self control rather than the things He can give us.
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all, His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible)
Like Charles Stanley would say, lets obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
God’s Love 4 ALL!