The Plumbline

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. (Psalm 23:1-3 NLT) The Lord is my shepherd. What does that statement really mean? It was not uncommon for the youngest boy in the family to be the shepherd in Old Testament times. He leaves home with the sole mission of tending the sheep. He carries little with him - a scrip and a staff, the clothes on his back, and his rod. His existence is quite remote - no one accompanies him, he shepherds alone. Jesus came alone. He didn't bring a legion of angels to protect him and the flock. He merely presented himself - he alone would tend the sheep.  As we think of our lives in terms of the sheep, we need someone to 'tend' to our lives. This psalm is truly a 'declaration' of God's care over his people. The sheep actually 'trusted' the shepherd - knowing he would ...

We can seek refuge in a great many things, such as our bank accounts, but I heard a report just the other day indicating that Americans once reported they felt 'secure' when they were making six figures - today they only feel secure when that 'six figures' is upwards of a quarter-million a year! The average worker goes into a new job interview expecting to make upwards of around $78,000 annually - up $5,000 from the previous year. If we haven't learned by now, our refuge is not in a bank accounts or retirement funds. It is found in God alone - all other 'placement of trust' is like taking refuge in a cardboard box in the midst of a hurricane! Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” (Psalm 16:1-2) Put your trust in money, and you soon find you are spending a whole lot of time and energy working to get money, thinking about money, and talking about how to make or ...