Our Good Shepherd

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10 (NIV)

A businessman was in Thailand to speak at a Bible conference hosted by a local church. The pastor offered to give him a tour of the village and the rice paddy fields. As they were passing a rice paddy, he saw a young man pulling a plough through the field while an old man and woman were pushing it. The man asked the pastor why they were doing this manually while the other farmers were using oxen. The pastor explained that the church had held a missions’ conference. During the conference, an appeal was made for donations for missionaries sent out by the church. The family wanted to support the missionaries, but didn’t have the finances. So they sold their ox. Six months later, the businessman returned and asked whether the family had been able to get an ox. The pastor replied that God did not give them an ox; God gave them a tractor.

The Thai farming family gave to missions because they believed in the importance of giving to God. They believed in the importance of spreading the gospel. They also believed that God would take care of their lack. When we experience scarcity or lack, we can so easily become overwhelmed. We become fearful. We worry about how we will make it through the day, the week, the month. God knows our lack, and He will give us what we need when we need it.

The Good Shepherd Cares For Us

He is our Good Shepherd and will provide for us in His way and in His time. The psalmist believed this when he said in Psalm 23:1 (NIV),

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."

When God says He is our Shepherd, He is obligated to take care of us. To provide for us and protect us. God cannot renege on His character.

While the rice farmers were waiting on the Lord to supply their bigger need, He gave them what they needed for each day. Each day, the Good Shepherd gave them the strength they needed to carry out their hard labour. Each day His grace was sufficient in their weakness. Each day His power rested on them  (2 Corinthians 12:9). Each day they trusted Him, until their prayers were answered – exceedingly abundantly above all they could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). When we seek the Lord, and we trust Him to answer our prayers as He desires, we will lack no good thing.

I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because the Lord is my Shepherd. Charles Spurgeon

Reflection:

Are you trusting the Lord to give you what you need for each day?

Prayer:

Lord, You know my needs. Help me while I wait upon You to trust You to take care of my needs each day. Thank You, Lord, that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all I ask or think. In Jesus’ name, amen.