Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God.
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100, NKJV
There is lots of shepherd imagery in the Bible concerning the Lord and our relationship to Him. He is my shepherd, the Psalmist tells us, leading us and guiding us, guarding and protecting us, providing for us, healing us, comforting us. He calls Himself the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, who knows those who are His, and is known by them. And like sheep sometimes do, we have all gone astray, but God laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
One of the things that seems so important to me tonight is His provision as my shepherd, for He has fed me today. He has given strength to my body through His Spirit so that I can do the things I needed to do, and fed me twice by the hands of others. He has nourished my spirit through His Word, giving me encouragement that I needed through the mouth of a faithful servant. He has provided intellectual fodder through discussion of the things of God with others. He has provided emotional sustenance through the sweet fellowship I have shared with those who love me, and whom my soul also loves.
My shepherd knows how to take care of me, and does so with with the deepest of loves. That's what a shepherd does, and I'm glad I'm resting in His pasture today!
Today I'm thankful for those things I mentioned above, the feeding of my body, mind and soul by my gentle shepherd.
I'm thankful for the Word of the Lord that comes through the Bible, through faithful servants of the LORD, and through His voice in my heart, the Word that directs me in what I need to do.
I'm thankful for love.
What are you thankful for?
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