DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
April 21, 2015
“THE ROD OF LOVE!”
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
When I conduct funeral services I frequently use an illustration that I gained years ago when I read a book by Phillip Keller called A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm. He refers to a young sheep that has a tendency to wander away from the flock. Do you know some family members like that?
A good shepherd knows that if the wandering sheep continues this habit, he will end up as some wild animal’s supper. As a last and extreme resort, the shepherd takes his “rod” and breaks the sheep's front leg. That may seem a cruel act to those who do not know the reason, but it's actually done to save the lamb’s life.
After breaking the leg, the shepherd carefully places a splint on it and, during the healing process, carries the small animal everywhere it needs to go -- the green pastures, the quiet waters, and the safe place to rest. Over that period of time the sheep falls in love with and bonds to the shepherd. Once the bone has healed and the splint has been removed, the sheep remains close by his shepherd and never wanders again.
I observed this scene in action many years ago. In a local garden shop a young sheep had its leg in a splint and followed close behind a clerk. I asked her about it and she said it had stepped into a hole and, in trying to free the leg, it had broken. Now the little sheep thought of the clerk as its momma and would not let her out of sight.
Sometimes the broken times of our life force us to re-evaluate our choices. Even though it hurts, we have the Great Shepherd who carries us in His arms through the pain, giving us the opportunity to fall in love with Him and never let Him out of our sight.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
- - - Pastor Cecil
No comments:
Post a Comment