Thursday, May 28, 2020

Social Distancing The Lord is My Shepherd


Social Distancing
The Lord is My Shepherd


This season of separation is a time to evaluate how close we are to the Lord
Is He the reason we go to church?
Is He the reason we have no need?
The Scriptures tell us
…we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.     Hebrews 10:21-25
You and I do not need to be isolated from God
Nothing should stop us from drawing near to Him
When He fills every “want” we have
We will come back together as the church stronger than ever
As you and I are in isolation can we say as David did?
 The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psalms 23:1



The Lord is My Shepherd

I think the last time I had
been in church was March 8th.

When we are in Florida we attend
Well Spring Church in Ruskin.

It is a church full of energy,
energy that is focused on giving real
hope to real people in a real world.
 
We had not been with our home church
since February 16th when we came back
to Ohio for a funeral in February.

We are now looking at June with no
date for the church doors to open again.

On Sunday mornings, I get up
and watch church on line.

Church has become a thing
to watch not participate in.

I am isolated from the friends at church.

It is not just me, we are
all removed from the flock.

We are sheep in isolation.

I miss being in the
same room as Pastor Chad.

I miss having a few short words
as we pass each other in the hall.

God has given us Pastors as gifts and built
His Church to encourage one another daily.

We are now in a season of months
where we are cut off from
our pastors and fellow saints.

The question we need to ask ourselves is…

 How are we doing Spiritual?

Psalms 23 is so popular, but in this
Pandemic verse 1 takes on a new meaning…

The LORD is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want. 

Being part of a local church and
having a pastor is God’s design.

It is very valuable to our
spiritual health and life.

But church can become a social club.

A place where we get to
spend time with caring people.

A time when we get
some encouraging words.

Sadly, we can go to church and
miss the most important part…

God with us.

The where every two or more are gathered
in His name He is in the midst of them.
 Matthew 18:20  

In this time of isolation
we need to be reminded…

The LORD is my Shepherd.

God uses Pastors to shepherd the Church.

God uses sheep to comfort one another.

But when we are alone,
 the Lord will never leave us.
Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5

David in writing this Psalm
makes an amazing statement…

I shall not be in want.

David understood the meaning of
isolation, suffering, rejection and
above everything in his life,

Was knowing…
 
The LORD is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want.

We may not like the Church doors closed.

But have a Shepherd that meets every need.

This season of separation is a time to
evaluate how close we are to the Lord.

Is He the reason we go to church?

Is He the reason we have no need?

The Scriptures tell us…

…we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
 Hebrews 10:21-25

You and I do not need
to be isolated from God.

Nothing should stop us
from drawing near to Him.

When He fills every “want” we have…

 We will come back together as
the church stronger than ever.

As you and I are in isolation
can we say as David did?...

  The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
Psalms 23:1


Scripture Reading

Psalms 23:6 NIV

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

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