Lent 2022

Psalm 23 is probably one of the most well-known passages of Scripture. Psalm 23 is read regularly at funerals reminding Jesus followers of His promised comfort in this life, and His eternal promise of peace in heaven.

When I first learned about Psalm 23 it had nothing to do with a funeral. Psalm 23 was painted not as a picture of dying and death, but rather living and life. Psalm 23 was a picture of the abundant life Jesus came to bring.

We don’t often look at Psalm 23 through the lens of the Good Shepherd, but I want to invite you to read it that way today, and to read it as a livable reality for the here and now.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

We’ll spend the next couple of days working through this Psalm. Today, we’ll just look at the truth of the first line. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Jesus is your Good Shepherd. Because He is your Good Shepherd, you lack nothing. Say it aloud, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”  One more time, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

We believe these truths are true. What do you believe?

Reflection:

1. In what ways do you view Psalm 23 as a livable reality for her and now?

2. How do you resist the temptation to believe that you somehow lack?

3. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” How might you fully live into this truth today?

Pray through the truth of Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

In the Good Shepherd discourse, Jesus introduces this powerful truth. Our Good Shepherd has come to bring “abundant” life.

It’s important to see the context of this statement. Jesus says these words, “7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10.7-10.  

Jesus makes it clear that His sheep will have enemies. His sheep will experience hardship, even pain and suffering. His sheep have an enemy, one who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Let’s pause here for a moment. Do you believe this truth? Do you believe you have an enemy who comes to not just take your innocence but to take your very life? An enemy who “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5.8.

The caricature images of a red devil with a pitchfork have severely diminished the reality of our enemy. There is no more grotesque, horrific, pain-infested being than our enemy who “is crouching at your door; desiring to have you.” Genesis 4.7.

But we need not fear. We have a Good Shepherd. We have one that has come to bring us life, and have it to the full.

We believe these truths are true. What do you believe?

Reflection:

1. Do you believe you have an enemy? How have you experienced the enemy? How is our enemy ultimately defeated?

2. In your own words, define the “abundant life” Jesus has come to bring.

3. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” How might you fully live into this truth today?

Pray through the truth of Ephesians 6.10-20.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10.11

We believe this truth is true. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. There’s not a lot of question or mystery about this truth. Jesus Himself taught us this truth.

The question is not is Jesus the Good Shepherd, but rather do you believe that our Good Shepherd is good to you? And, what constitutes His goodness expressed to you?

Let’s start at the beginning. What makes Jesus our Good Shepherd? The truth is He is our Good Shepherd not because of the places He leads, or the pain He heals, or the gifts He gives. Jesus is Good because Jesus is God.

If we question His goodness, it’s most likely because we are looking at ourselves, we are looking at our circumstances, our hurts, our broken dreams, or disappointments.

Jesus didn’t just talk about being our Good Shepherd, Jesus demonstrated His goodness to the whole world. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5.8. The writer of the Hebrews adds this truth,

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9.14-15

Our Good Shepherd is good because He is God. He is good because of what He accomplished on the cross, making atonement for our sins, and setting us free from the law of sin and death.

One of the most frequent comments I’ve heard during this Lenten series has been this, “Yes, Craig, I believe these truths are true, everything you guys are talking about. I believe these truths are true, I’m just not sure I believe they are true for me.”

We believe these truths are true. What do you believe?

Reflection:

1. Do you believe our Good Shepherd is good to you?

2. In your own words, describe what makes Jesus “Good”.

3. “I am the Good Shepherd.” How might you fully live into this truth today?

Pray through the truth of John 13.34-35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13.34-35

“Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Encouragement. I absolutely love to be encouraged, don’t you? I recently went through a season where it felt like encouragement was hard to come by. When I am not being encouraged it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong, I am not valued, or worse… not even noticed.

But when I am encouraged, it spurs me on. It confirms and affirms the truth of who I am in Christ. It helps me to live fully me and fully free.

I have noticed that when I am not being encouraged, I usually am not encouraging others. It is not a very beautiful cycle and it’s hard to break, especially when you think you deserve it and the other person may not.

Recently, a friend of mine texted me and said, “The Lord has been speaking to me. He laid your name and four other men on my heart. I’m to pray for you daily.”

Talk about encouragement! When the Lord is speaking to your friend about you, and your friend is charged to pray for you daily, wow! And not only has he prayed for me, but he has listened to the Spirit of God speak to him and has sent me the most encouraging, spirit-filled texts at the most needed times!

I am reminded of these verses:

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

I’m not sure what may be discouraging you today, but can I invite you to be a vessel of God’s presence and peace today by being His voice of encouragement?

Reflection:

1. Lord, who might you want me to encourage today?
2. Lord, I need encouragement. Will encourage me or send a vessel of your encouragement to me?
3. Lord, thank you for the reminder of who I am in you. I praise you for that!  Help me to stay there and be encouraged in that truth. 

Pray through the truth of Romans 15:4-6.

 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”