Presence Point

“There is a gap between our theology of sin (sin is bad and should not rule over us) and our experience as Christians living in a fallen world.”

“Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.”

You need rescuing, delivering from whatever you are facing, but God has not yet acted. He has not yet stepped in and saved the day! He has not yet done whatever it is you are hoping He would do. Or maybe it just seems that way.

You see, our status as children of God, as those who love Him, follow His Word, and serve as His under-shepherds, does not shield us from the arrogant and the evil around us, but as the psalmist knows God is the ultimate protector.

Our God does, in fact, protect His people. He upholds the obedient and rejects the wicked, and He alone should be viewed in awe and respected with every part of our being. He will keep His promises. He will keep His Word. We can count on Him to do everything He says He will do.

We must take the time to remember what God has done for us. The Protection He’s supplied to us when we were fearful, the Provision He has offered us when we were in need, and the strong sense of His Presence when it was most necessary in our lives.

We must make God our shield, our defense to fend off the attacks that do come our way and we must be leaders who protect the flock in our care, never losing confidence in the ultimate triumph we have through God’s Words.

Trust Him, wait for Him, and follow our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd wherever He leads. I promise, in fact, He promises, that He will not lead you astray. He will not leave us nor forsake us.

Respecting God’s judgments begins with respecting His Word, and that respect begins with a wholehearted commitment to Scripture. A commitment that we, as God’s under-shepherds, should demonstrate, as well.

He who walks in darkness is sure, sooner or later, to stumble; while he who walks by the light of day, or by the lamp of night, stumbles not, but keeps his uprightness.

"Happy is the man who personally appropriates God’s word, and practically uses it as his comfort and counsellor, a lamp to his own feet.”

When darkness settles down upon all around me, the word of the Lord, like a flaming torch, reveals my way.

Each man should use the word of God personally, practically, and habitually, that he may see his way and see what lies in it.

“We are walkers through the city of this world, and we are often called to go out into its darkness; let us never venture there without the light-giving word, lest we slip with our feet."

“Faithfulness is an evidence of faith, and faith comes from hearing and receiving the Word of God."

It has often been said that “the greatest ability is dependability”. And we know this applies to our Savior, as He is fully faithful to us.

Dear fellow under-shepherd, as leaders in the body of Christ, it is our responsibility to live focused on the Father, follow His Word, know and believe in His precepts and teaching and model the Good Shepherd by following the admonitions of this passage in every area of our lives

Our Father wants us to be confident that living by His precepts – by His Word – will invite other believers to follow the example you set.

God wants us to know that He has a purpose in every type of affliction, trouble, and trial we face that He allows.

God wants us to know His commands so we can follow him obediently, with understanding. He wants us to be an encouragement to others in the body of Christ by living out His Word in the face of every size of affliction. He wants us to be faithful, even when those around us are not.