Jesus Is... (Part 2 expounded upon)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Text: Ezekiel 34

Sheep are naturally very stupid creatures. They need to have someone to guide them or else they will come to utter ruin out of sheer stupidity. God set up shepherds for His sheep-- kings, priests, etc.-- but they did not do as He had commanded them; rather, they used their position to serve themselves. They fed off of the "sheep" (people) and did not lead and watch after them as they should have. So the sheep wandered and were lost. Because there was no sufficient shepherd (prophet, priest, and king), the Great Shepherd (Prophet, Priest, and King) stepped in. He searched for the lost sheep, and found them. He led His sheep to fresh pastures and still waters. He cared for the weak and the wounded among them. He judged the sheep who were all about themselves, striving to get all they could first.

In this chapter of Ezekiel, there is a very exciting prophecy: "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it" (verse 23,24). This instantly turns my mind to the words of Jesus Christ: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." "My servant David" refers to Jesus Christ, who was of the lineage of David, yet also the Son of God. He indeed is a Shepherd to His people.

So here I am: Melanie the Bewildered. I am a very stupid (as in, silly) sheep who never really knows where she is going or what to do. Yesterday morning when I read this passage, I had begun with a mind clouded by a million things that would like to veil the pathway from my eyes. I worry, I fret, I wander, I forget... and yet my Jesus guides me when I don't know the way; He carries me when I am too weak to go on by myself; He leads me on when I begin to trample the ground around me (spiritual stagnance); He gives me hope when otherwise I would have none. What a wonderful, dear Shepherd! How lost I would be without Him! I am totally insufficient, unable to guide my own self. If I was left to myself, I would go directly to destruction. I must stay close to my Shepherd, for there is safety and hope. He will lead me on to better pastures and fresh water. He will care for me when I am hurt or sick, and He will provide protection from the cold and the weather.

God's love amazes me! Who am I, that He would search for me time and time again and always find me and bring me back? How is it that He doesn't ever "write me off" (as Dan says in Last Flight Out)? What overwhelming mercy and goodness. What a wonderful Shepherd we have in Jesus Christ.

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those who are with young" (Isaiah 40:11)

"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day" (Ezekiel 34:11,12)

"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25)

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20, 21)

Thanksgiving

"And God be praised, we had a good increase... Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of ours labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help besides, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we excercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty... These things I thought good to let you understand... that you might on our behalf give God thanks who hath dealt so favourably with us."

-Edward Winslow, in a letter to a friend in England

"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwelling against the winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and otehr fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees.) And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a peck a meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many aterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports."

-William Bradford, Of Plimoth Plantation

"And thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to bless their outgoings and incomings, for which let His holy name have the praise forever, to all posterity."

-William Bradford, Of Plimoth Plantation

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

*Mercy* in the Book of Ezekiel

I have been reading through Ezekiel recently and if you read it without the right perspective, through the eyes of the flesh, it may seem to portray God has very harsh and judging. There are so many seemingly "harsh" judgments in this book. Some may be tempted to say, like Israel, "The way of the Lord is not equal (just)." They may wonderful how a merciful God could do those sorts of things. However, that all comes from an earthly, clouded perspective. Ezekiel is actually a book about God's mercy and love.

"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11)

The Psalmist describes Him as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." He "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." This is seen clearly in this verse from Ezekiel. Over and over again, He reached out in mercy, inviting the people of Israel to return to Him, to forsake their sin and cling to Him for salvation. Sin requires justice and judgment; God wanted His people to turn from it before it was too late. He pleaded with them, asking why they insisted on ways that would lead to their own destruction and death. Sadly, they continued to reject Him, bringing judgment on themselves.

"Yet the children of thy people say, They way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal" (Ezekiel 33:17, emphasis mine).

We humans have (apart from God's Spirit dwelling in us) such a blinded and earthly perspective. We can only see the injustice to us, when it is really us who are being unjust and wrong. People often are resistant to the Gospel because they want the satisfaction of thinking they're right, and they think God is unjust for punishing anyone for their sin. Oh that people-- that we-- would see that God alone is entirely just and entirely merciful at the same time. That is why He "sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin" and "condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." He will accept us if we turn to Him in full dependence and faith, but if we reject Him to the end, He will have to reject us.

God's love and patience and mercy is so amazing; we should truly thank Him for it on this day of thanksgiving.

Love Lustres at Calvary

The following is a prayer that was printed on the back of the church bulletins on Sunday. It really spoke to my heart and, though it is a little long, I wanted to share it with you.

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"My Father,

Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,

supply words that proclaim 'Love lustres at Calvary.'

There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on Thy Son,

made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;

There the sword of Thy justice smote the Man, Thy fellow;

There thy infinite attributes were magnified,

and infinite atonement was made;

There infinite punishment was due,

and infinite punishment was endured.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,

cast off that I might be brought in,

trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,

surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best,

stripped that I might be clothed,

wounded that I might be healed,

athirst that I might drink,

tormented that I might be comforted,

made a shame that I might inherit glory,

entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,

groaned that I might have endless song,

endured all pain that I might have unfading health,

bore a thorned crown that I might have a glory-diadem,

bowed His had that I might uplift mine,

experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,

closed His eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,

expired that I might for ever live.

O Father, who spared not Thine only Son that Thou mightest spare me,

All this transfer Thy love designed and accomplished;

Help me to adore Thee by lips and life.

O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,

my every step bouyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed,

Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,

sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,

hell's gates closed, heaven's portal open.

Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross,

mighty to subdue, comfort and save."

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This Thanksgiving, we will thank the Lord for our homes, food to eat, friends, and so on. But let us not forget to thank Him for the most glorious gift ever given: the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him is life and hope and peace!

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But commendeth His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8)

What Not to Worry About

Yesterday in Pastor's afternoon message about "Ministering the Gospel in Athens" (from Acts 17:16-34), he touched on something that really stood out to me. His point was, don't consume your time and energy on things you can't change-- as a Christian, do what God has called you to do, which is to give the Gospel. I realized as he spoke on this how much time and energy I spend in worrying about things I can't change. The night of the election (Nov. 4), I was thinking a lot about the elections, wondering who had won it, and my dreams were filled with Obama and McCain-- Obama doing all these dreadful things, and things like that. And after that, I tended to worry about what might happen now, what will change, and such. But no matter how much I worry about things, (1) it doesn't change anything, and (2), I still don't know what's going to happen-- only God does! So it gets me nowhere! It's just a waste of my time and mental capacity!

So what is the solution? What should I do instead?

Just what God tells me to do (and there are no "ifs", "ands", or "buts" about what culture I was born into, what point in history I live in, who is the ruler of my nation, etc.): Spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Plant and water the seed! Introduce souls into His kingdom! That is our mission as Christians, and that will change the world. Not huge political gatherings. Not organizations against this or that problem in government or society. Not worrying. Not arguing. Just the Gospel of Jesus Christ-- a thing that is timeless in its message and eternal in its truth. As Christians, we must be consumed by His glory, and jealous for His glory. Ours souls must be "attuned to the eternal".

Joshua 12-14
"Levi's inheritance is three times mentioned in this section (13:14; 13:33, 14:3). Nothing but Jehovah! What a poor tribe, we would say. How will they ever live? Ah, faith's eyes look up and are satiated with the unseen possessions in God's person. I would be so-- nothing save God. Satisfy me, O my Heavenly Inheritance."

-from The Journals of Jim Elliot, entry dated June 22, 1948

Virtuous Woman post

Marie has written an excellent post on the virtuous woman and I highly recommend it to you! She expounded on this topic in a way I had never heard before, and it was SO good!! It really spoke to my heart as it showed me what I am to be as a woman of God.

Thanks, Marie!! :-D

Alpha and Omega...Beginning and End... All in All

Too Much to Read!

I have to laugh at myself when I think about all the many, many books I want to read. I LOVE to read-- especially books that are edifying to my walk with the Lord-- but there are really just too many to read! This winter shouldn't be boring or pointless, if I just limit too much wasted computer time!!

How about a pictorial guide?

* Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

* Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

* David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (I did actually already start this one, but set it aside for other books

* Sergeant York and the Great War by Alvin C. York/Tom Skeyhill/Richard Wheeler

* A Man Called Peter by Catherine Marshall

*Ellanor's Exchange by Linda Hayner

*Christy by Catherine Marshall

*Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

* A Chance To Die by Elisabeth Elliot (re-read)

*Bunyan's Blind Daughter Mary by S. R. Ford

*J. Hudson Taylor by Roger Steer

* Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose (re-read)

*Mountain Rain by Eileen Fraser Crossman

* Stones of Fire by Isobel Kuhn

*Green Leaf in Drought by Isobel Kuhn (re-read)

*North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (not pictured)

Big list, isn't it? (And there are many more re-reads in order which I have not indicated.) Please feel free to comment and tell me your rating on some of the above which you have read, so I know what is worth my time or not. :-)

Have you ever thought to evaluate what kind of entertainment is really worth your time? Does the book encourage you to seek to have your own way or learn to give up your own rights for God's glory and others' good? Does it promote worldly behaviors or Christlike living? Does it cause you to imagine all kinds of unrealistic romances adventures, etc., happening to yourself, or place in you a determination to serve God no matter what happens? Does it align with the guidelines in God's Word? If it was an animate person, would you spend time with it then? These are things to keep in mind as you and I choose which books to "befriend". 1 Corinthians sums it up well:

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)

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Here are the books I am currently reading:

The Practice of the Presence of God

by Brother Lawrence ~ Advice on how to make God the very center of your life, in all that you do

To The Golden Shore

by Courtney Anderson ~ A biography on the amazing life and work of missionary Adoniram Judson

The Journals of Jim Elliot edited by Elisabeth Elliot ~ Just what it says-- the journals of a man of God

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford ~ An account of God's hand in the travels of the Pilgrims and the founding of Plymouth

Emma by Jane Austen ~ A delightful fictional story of early 19th-century England, and a high-ranked young woman with a love for matchmaking and much to learn, for all she thinks she knows!

New Blog!

Our friend Bethany (not the same as my sister :-) ) has started a blog to share about what Christ has been doing in her life. Feel free to check it out:

http://bethanythoughtsbygrace.blogspot.com/