PLUNGE READINGS FOR JULY 19, 2009

July 19, 2009

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD AND THAT’S ENOUGH

The town’s newspaper was distributed weekly and a local Pastor, to encourage people to come to worship on Sunday, was in the habit of putting the title of his upcoming sermon in each edition. One particularly busy week, the Pastor got behind and forgot to send the title in. The editor, facing deadline, called the Pastor frantically asking for the sermon’s title. Although the Pastor knew he would be preaching on Psalm 23, he had no idea of the theme of the message or the title of the sermon. Without thinking, he told the editor, “Just put The Lord’s My Shepherd and that’s enough.” When the paper came out on Thursday the bold print read “PASTOR SERMON – THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD AND THAT’S ENOUGH!!!”As I listen to God in this week’s reading, I hear Him saying the same thing. Listen.

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD AND THAT’S ENOUGH
“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture… The days are coming," declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness” Jeremiah 23: 3, 5&6

This is Messianic prophecy, pure and simple. God’s shepherds were not caring for His sheep as they should have been. Instead of caring and protecting as they should be, they were scattering them. Who are the “sheep?” We are, but instead of being scattered because of careless shepherds, we are scattered because of our sins and sinfulness; and, like scattered sheep, if left alone we would die – eternally. But God promised to send a shepherd - a shepherd that, instead of scattering the sheep, would gather them and bring them back to the safety of His pasture and sheep pen. Who is this great shepherd? “He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” - His only Son JESUS CHRIST. With God’s only Son as our Shepherd, what more do we need?

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD AND THAT’S ENOUGH
“Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:12-14a

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD AND THAT’S ENOUGH
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Mark 6:34

THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD AND THAT’S ENOUGH
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake….. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:2,3,6

On our own, we are not only scattered sheep, but sheep without hope and WITHOUT GOD. What a horrible picture – a bunch of sheep wandering around with no one to lead them, no one to protect them, no one to care for them – lost and at the mercy of every predator imaginable. But, by the Grace of God, our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, came and through the shedding of His blood, He gathered us, brought us back, and restores our relationship with God. Now, we have a Shepherd that has compassion on us, teaches us, lead us, protect us, and care for us. Now, instead of death, we have salvation, peace, and the promise that His goodness and love will be with us on our journey this side of heaven and will lead us to our heavenly dwelling when our journey is over. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD AND THAT IS ENOUGH!

Father, thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to be our Shepherd. Enable us, by Your Holy Spirit, to be like sheep, listen for His voice, and follow Him always. In Jesus name we ask - AMEN

Week ending: July 19, 2009

Monday – (Old Testament)
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Contrast the way the earthly shepherds cared for God’s sheep as opposed to Jesus our Good Shepherd

Tuesday – Psalm 23
Nothing but pure hope and comfort here with our Good Shepherd

Wednesday –(Epistle)
Ephesians 2:11-22
Knowing where we’ve been, why would we ever want to follow anyone or anything else than our Good Shepherd

Thursday – (Gospel)
Mark 6:30-34
Jesus, our Good Shepherd feeds us not only physically, but spiritually as well

Friday –The LORD is my shepherd and that’s enough.

Saturday – SHARE ways that Jesus our shepherd is leading you this week

Sunday – Worship together fellow citizens and members of God Household