Psalm 23:1-6
You, Lord, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Shortly
before Christmas, Timothy was watching a YouTube video where a dad and
his son opened new toys and described them to the viewers. For those of
you without small children, this has become quite the phenomenon…videos
where adults open toys - and wrapped packages or plastic eggs that
contain small toys or candy – and sample the wares. The people on
camera describe the contents and sometimes play with the toys or take a
bite of the candy and describe the experience. All three of our
children are mesmerized by these videos. Generally, they have little to
say…but this particular day, the dad opened a box containing a “Jurassic
World Indominus Rex vs. Gyrosphere Pack.”
Timothy’s eyes lit
up, and he said, “Oh! I HAVE to have this! I NEED this!” I reminded
Timothy that he had already placed his order with Santa, and I was not
sure that this was possible. But he insisted we look the toy up online
and see how much it cost…and maybe was there a way that he could have it
for Christmas, because this really was ALL that he wanted!
Luckily,
Grandma E had not done her shopping yet, and the Indominus Rex was
purchased for Timothy – along with a T-Rex for Nathan and some "Frozen"
toys for Zola. When Timothy opened the package on Christmas Eve, his
face said it all. ”This was JUST what I wanted!” he declared! And
Grandma E was the hero!
It’s a funny thing how we decide what we want/need. Some of us absolutely need
a companion…we feel we cannot function well on our own. Others believe
they absolutely must have the latest fashions, gadgets, electronics,
cars, and more. Still others feel that they are only as good as their
latest “success” – academically, physically, economically, and more.
They have to be the right weight and shape, achieve the desired scores,
earn a certain amount of money, and be surrounded by people who at least
appear to like them. And we all expend a LOT of time and energy to
accomplish these goals and maintain this “status.”
I encourage
you to stop for just a few minutes and read this scripture passage and
let it soak into your soul. Especially note the first verse…”You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.” The difference
in what we find important involves a shift in focus…from ourselves and
the world – to JESUS! And what results is astounding. For starters…our
attitude and demeanor change. We are no longer chasing our tails to
get ahead, to “be somebody,” or to feel happy and content. And the
world notices the shift.
When we begin to rest in Jesus…to fully
embrace the concept that He meets our every need and gives us all that
is important, we demonstrate to others that Jesus is our Refuge – our
Comforter and Provider. In Him, we have hope and a purpose…and we are
able to share with others out of this abundance. We are able to “feed
His sheep” because we trust Him to feed us.
I have
no doubt that Timothy has played with his new dinosaur for hours on
end. But in time, he will tire of this toy and move on to the next
thing that he simply must have…just as we all do when our focus is on
earthly acquisitions and treasures. Do not misunderstand what I am
saying…there is nothing wrong with goals and aspirations. It is not
wrong to have nice things, new toys, or our desire for the company of
others. The key is how we align our priorities.
When we place
the focus on Jesus…when we look to Him to be the Author and Finisher of
all that we require, everything else falls into place…and we are truly
able to say “I will never be in need.” And we can demonstrate to others
that this is possible for them, as well.
So my question today is
this…”Who are you asking to meet your needs?” Are you seeking the
latest, greatest “toy” to add to your collection…or are you seeking a
seat at the LORD’s table, where His kindness and love are always
available? When others look at you, do they see someone whose needs are
met by Jesus…or someone who is “looking for love and confirmation in
all the wrong places”? How you answer matters greatly. So Who is
meeting your needs today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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