Jan
5
Written by:
Bob Flynn
1/5/2010 7:21 AM
That’s Enough
The Rev. R. I. Williams telephoned his sermon topic to the Norfolk Ledger Dispatch.
"The Lord is my Shepherd," he said.
"Is that all?" he was asked. He replied, "That’s enough." And the church page carried Mr. William’s sermon topic as: "The Lord is my Shepherd—that’s enough."
The minister rather liked the idea. He used the expanded version as his sermon title that Sunday at Fairmont Park Methodist Church. —Gospel Herald
"The LORD is my shepherd."
To ponder these words is not an original idea. Just by changing the emphasis as they are spoken is to begin to consider the fullness of the truth therein contained. The LORD is my shepherd. It is one thing to have a shepherd and something totally different yet to consider that the Shepherd is the LORD. Him Who sits upon the throne of all creation (in Him, by Him, through Him, and for Him were all things created) is my shepherd. There is great comfort in knowing the Shepherd. Since He is the shepherd and I am the sheep of His pasture then learning of sheep could be of benefit. Sheep are woefully ignorant and much afraid. That would be a most kind rendition of humankind in general and Christians in particular. Remember that we are the proud possessors of a reprobate mind (one that has been tested and found to be no good) and that the wrath of God is being revealed against "all" ungodliness and "all" unrighteousness without exclusion! In case you missed it, "sin" is the wrath of God inflicted! Why is this important? Because I have need of a shepherd and that need has been fulfilled in a most remarkable way! The LORD is my shepherd. I could say that I have a renewed mind, but that would not be true! The renewing of the mind is a continuous operation of the Holy Spirit and is necessary because in my flesh there lies no good thing. So when sin enters my life (and believe me it does!) I have need of this wondrous Shepherd who will always draw me back to Himself! I can never be lost for I am found! The LORD is my shepherd, the alternative is unthinkable!
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything. (Colossians 1:15-18 NLT)
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. (John 1:1-4 NLT)