Cornerstone Christian Fellowship

“Your rod and staff comfort me”
Psalm 23:4

Thank you Lord for your great care
For your rod and staff are always there
Through the night, and each new day
They guide and protect me all the way
In righteous paths they lead me on
Till the dawning of that golden morn
When at last arriving safely home
Never having cause, again to roam.
sass

The 23rd Psalm is one of the most well-known and loved Psalms in the Bible.  But have you ever really thought what these verses mean? I know we can read things and not think too much about the words or what they mean, I do it myself!  We can get so used to reading them as a matter of form as Christians. I hope this will throw a little light on this verse. Much can be learned from seeing the parallels between the earthly shepherd and our Shepherd.  Christ is our chief shepherd; the rod is a symbol of his divine power and authority.  The earthly shepherd’s rod was used for caring for the sheep, and is symbolic of how God cares for his people as the chief shepherd.  The rod is used for the protection of the sheep against wild animals that would attack the flock and kill them, a defence used against all kinds of dangers.  The rod was also used to discipline and correct any sheep that kept wandering off, as it is a serious thing to wander away from the shepherd’s side, as the sheep could be putting themselves in grave danger.

The rod was also used for counting and separating the sheep. The staff is shaped and adapted to the needs of the sheep; the shepherd uses the staff to reach out and catch individual sheep, and draw them close to himself. The staff also is used to guide the sheep along dangerous paths as well as new paths where he would take them; it is never used to beat the sheep, the gentle pressure of the staff against the sheep guides them in the way they should go.  No other profession carries a staff – the staff identifies the shepherd as the shepherd.  Sheep need a shepherd as they are not the most intelligent of animals! Just as we have need of a saviour, and shepherd, to guide us in the way we should go.  The staff of God is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, as He brings comfort and gently corrects and guides us.

The 23rd Psalm to me is the loveliest Psalm in the bible, it speaks of the love and compassion that Jesus, our chief shepherd, has for us his flock; we ourselves can be just like sheep straying off the path of righteousness, and not listening to the shepherd nor obeying his gently promptings.

There is a lovely illustration of our shepherd that shows the care and concern he has for his sheep in Luke 15:4  “What man among you having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them will not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that was lost?”   Our great Shepherd is not willing that any one of us are lost. Just as it is dangerous for sheep to leave the shepherd’s side, it is dangerous for us to leave the protection of our heavenly Father. No matter what has happened, He will never leave you or forsake you.  If you have strayed from God then listen carefully for his voice, calling for you to come back to his side before it is too late.

For as the rain comes down and the snow from
Heaven and returns not again, but waters the earth
And Makes it bring forth and bud that  it may give
Seed to the sower and bread to the eater.
ISAIAH  55:10

Pitterpatter pitterpatter as it goes the rain
Making lots of water drops on your window pane
Washing up dirty streets leaving not a stain
Then with its humdrum song goes gurgling down the drain.
Giving trees drinks on leaves refilling water mains
Watering the flower beds to help them bloom again
Making lakes and rivers while we just complain
“terrible weather altogether” you will hear us all exclaim!
When its work is complete little puddles still remain
Then the sun goes to work and mops them up again.
sass

There has been so much rain of late we have all been complaining about the constant deluge. I felt I had to write something in support of our Scottish weather. They say we have the finest water in the world. Tetley Tea bags are not the same without it!

I see our heavenly father as the gardener. Imagine the rain coming out of his amazing watering can as he looks down from heaven on the great gardens of earth, smiling  as he tends and waters them. The next time it rains thank God for his wonderful provision, there is a blessing in it for the earth and the peoples of the earth, where would we be without “OUR” water supply. When we turn on our taps at home we never expect the water NOT BEING THERE…

Something to ponder- water is the most precious commodity on earth. Without it there would be no life on earth. There are two types of  life giving water. One is for our physical needs the other is for our spiritual needs John 4:14 both given freely without cost by the loving hand of God who cares
for our every need. Do you need a spiritual drink today? Come to the well and meet Jesus.

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth”
John 4:24

Let us come into his presence
With hands and voices raised
Come in joy and gladness
As we sing his praise
Let our spirit be ever open
That we may receive
Let our hearts be ever tender
That we may believe
Sass

I believe that true worship comes from an intimate relationship with God. All things spring from this wonderful relationship. He is the fountain of all life the giver of all things. God is spirit we must worship Him in “spiritual worship” that means with our whole mind and heart, led by the truth which is the word of God. Following a set pattern or ceremonialism in worship, is not a substitute for worship in the spirit, God is seeking  true worshipers. To worship God is to get in touch with him through our spirit to his divine one, what a privilege! It’s like hugging your heavenly father.

When we truly worship God with all our being, miracles happen. Paul and Silas were in prison singing praises to God when there was a great earthquake. The doors of the prison flew open, the chains  of all the prisoners fell off, resulting in the salvation of  the jailer – Acts 16
When Jehoshaphat worshipped, Israel had victory over its enemy’s – 2 Chronicles 20
Nothing pleases God more apart from faith than receiving true worship and adoration from his children. We must learn to exercise our spirit, we received salvation with our spirit not with our flesh. Let us go on not in the flesh but in the spirit.

True worship leads us into the presence of God, also it brings down his glory to his people. It brings the anointing oil when we are all working together, true worship is not about being a good singer, although that is an asset, it’s about singing to God from a sincere heart. Come, let us worship The Lord for he is our creator let us give of ourselves to Him, as Christ gave himself to us, when Christ died for us on the cross his arms were raised his head was lifted up as he communed with his heavenly father, he opened himself to his God even though there was much suffering in the offering of himself for us, can’t we as his children open ourselves to him in worship that we may receive the good things he has for us.