FEBRUARY 6, 2010

THE LORD IS

MY SHEPHERD

Scripture Reading--Psalm 23

Psalm 23 offers some of the most comforting verses in Scripture. This psalm is the testimony of a shepherd who truly knew the Great Shepherd. Having cared for sheep, David saw himself as a sheep who needed God's care and concern. For David, knowing the Lord as his own Shepherd was a great comfort in times of need.

Listen to the story of a young shepherd boy. One day someone shared the Gospel with him, using Psalm 23:1 as a key verse. That person instructed him to remember the verse by using the five fingers on one hand. Starting with his thumb, he learned to say the verse while pointing to each finger. When he came to the ring finger and the word my, he was told to grasp the ring finger with his other hand, holding it securely. As a result of learning the verse, the lad trusted Christ as his Savior and Shepherd.

Later while caring for his sheep, the shepherd boy became trapped in a blizzard. Unable to find shelter, the boy was left to the mercy of the bitter cold and the snow. When he didn't return, a search party discovered his lifeless body.

Those who found him noticed that one of the boy's frozen hands tightly gripped the ring finger of his other hand. The blessing came when they realized that even in "the valley of the shadow of death" the Lord had truly been with him. This simple thought from Psalm 23 had comforted the boy during his final moments.

Do you and your family know the Great Shepherd? Can each member of your family truly say, "The Lord is my shepherd"? If not, come to Him as a lost sheep and let Him take you into His care. Then you, like David, will be able to say, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

ACTION POINT: Read John 10:27-28. Note what the Good Shepherd gives.

--Tom Palmer--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR: Exodus cc. 32-34