The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. – Psalm 23:1
In a previous blog, I mentioned that to take possession of the promise in Psalm 23:1, that the LORD is my Shepherd and I shall not want, we need to be sheep, for our Lord Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of sheep. And it does not matter, whether the sheep is dumb or intelligent, as long as it knows and follows the voice of the Shepherd. Today, let us look at one another aspect of a sheep.
Sheep are not meant to carry loads. We would never see a sheep carrying a burden. But there is another animal meant for carrying burdens. A donkey. That is its job. To carry loads. To carry burdens.
Unfortunately, today, many Christians are donkeys, rather than sheep. We have become a people who are melancholic and gloomy, waiting for a disaster to strike us. Unable to bear the cross of our day-to-day life. But we are not meant to.
We are supposed to carry the yoke that our Lord gives (Matthew 11:29-30). But instead, we carry all our burdens and all our worries in our hearts. Though we come to the presence of the Lord and unload our burdens through prayer, when we go back, we make sure to carry those burdens again. There are some Christians who even warn us, if we are filled with joy and laughter, that the Lord does not like Christians laughing and if He hears us laughing, He will make us weep. Not sure which Bible they are reading.
Listen to the Psalmist. Cast your burdens on the Lord. Everything. All your pains and hurts. All your worries and failures. All your fears and expectations. The LORD is able. Yes, He is Lord Almighty. Creator of the Universe. HE has been sustaining everything that we see and that we cannot see for eternity. HE can sure sustain you. Pour your heart like Hannah did. But leave all your worries at His feet. Let the LORD trample down every burden that makes you weary.
You are called to be a sheep. You are meant to be taken care by the Shepherd. You are not meant to worry about anything. You are called to trust your Shepherd for everything that you need. You shall not want, for your Shepherd is the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you (Deut. 33:26).
Let us come to Him. Let us come to Jesus Christ. Let us accept His invitation. And this is His invitation: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Yes, He will give you rest. HE will make you lie down in green pastures. HE will lead you beside still waters. Come to Him. Now.