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Word from Nairnshire

    by Sandy Shaw

Seawater
Date Posted: March 17, 2009

It was a wise man who penned these words, “The Lord is my shepherd”. David, one of the greatest kings of Israel, who had earlier been a shepherd in the Judean wilderness around Bethlehem, wrote this simple but profound truth.

Each of us needs a shepherd whether we realise it or not.

It is Isaiah who teaches us, “we all, like sheep, have gone astray” when he writes about Jesus Christ and what was to be accomplished on the cross.

Some may not like being regarded as a sheep, and many resist the thought of having a shepherd. God gives us that freedom, but if you are wise surrender it, and submit to the good Shepherd.

Sheep are not very able to care for themselves. They are quite defenceless, and so need someone to guard, protect and provide for them.

On their own, they get dirty easily and stay that way, being unable to clean themselves. The human parallel is personally relevant.

David had learned the lesson that with God as his Shepherd, he would not want for anything he needed.

Some people are always looking for something bigger, nicer, faster, newer, until it is like drinking seawater, where there is never satisfaction.

Desire and want, and longing for more, can be imprisoning.

When God evaluates your life, the abundance of your possessions, or your image in society, is irrelevant.

He looks for faith, for obedience, devotion and loyalty.

We read of those who shipwrecked their faith when they rebelled against God’s appointed shepherd.

David well knew the dangers facing sheep, if the shepherd were not keeping a close watch over where they were going and what wild wolves might be awaiting to pounce.

A shepherd is not only precious, but essential.

Sandy Shaw
Nairn Christian Fellowship

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Biography Information:
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!

Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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