Stand out from the Crowd

Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

I sat on the front porch this morning in the peace of an early Saturday morning before dawn. I had lie awake earlier for a while thinking about many big things in my life. Contemplating many paths, reviewing many outcomes, and possible changes in direction for me and my family. The Lord has been laying on my heart a change; unsure of what he means, but I know a change is coming. These type feelings can bring anxieties to us, cause stresses and strains on relationships, cause us to react differently than we might have if we were not under a stress or trial in our lives. There are underlying tones in all of us; reasons we say what we say, react as such, and how we handle the daily duties of life. God has allowed, many times designed, all that we face in life; that is a simple understanding of his sovereignty. Even understanding that, our sin-filled nature wants to war with that. Our flesh wants us to worry, to stress, to react as though God is not in control; to react as though the sheep of David’s Psalm would, if they did not have the Great Shepard watching over them. All of this Psalm above is one of the peace that comes with even a small understanding that God is in control of our lives. Likely in this King James Version, we have all heard it at funerals; a Psalm of peace that God has taken a loved one from this life into the next. That context is OK, but in reality, David is speaking of the context of God’s care for us here, in the now, in the daily shepherding of those who know his name, and respond as such. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Even in the incredible trials of life, God is with you, caring for you, if you will only listen to him and have the peace that comes with that.

I found myself in Nahum later, reading of God’s impending judgement on evil. I read of Nahum’s call to repent, for Nineveh to turn from their wicked ways again, and for God to possibly spare them again….it didn’t happen. God wiped the wicked city from history, even after using them to judge the sins of Israel earlier in time. God used this evil society for his purposes, but that did not excuse them from accountability to God. Surely even some in that day, God opened their eyes to their sins, and they repented and were saved, we only can hope so. But, even in this entire prophecy of impending doom, in vivid detail, a prophecy that is somewhat hard to read, Nahum reminds some that God knows who loves him. God knows who fears him and has dedicated their lives to him, even in an evil environment. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. Do not fear when you see the world failing around you. Do not be scared to stand out from the crowd as a believer in Jesus Christ. Do not fear the ridicule or persecution you may face as a Christian; Nahum may be speaking of you, even from thousands of years ago in his prophecy, before God judges the world again.