Lead Me In The Paths Of Righteousness For Your Name's Sake

Lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake PS 23:3

Historians will probably call our era “the age of anxiety.” Though we have it easier than our forefathers, we have more uneasiness.

I have read that if sheep are left by themselves they will wander in the same tracts over and over again. The problem comes when because they do not seek fresh land the land becomes a desert and because it is not cleaned they pollute the ground with disease and parasites. If let to themselves they will keep trying to find food and what they find will be bad for them. Sheep are different than cows because when they eat the grass they also tear up the roots so the ground becomes barren. The good shepherd keeps his flock on the move to greener pastures. This means they need to be moved almost every week. We are in world that is polluted with diseases of the mind and body. We need the Good Shepherd to keep us on the move or we will find ourselves sick. We need to be moved each week just like sheep that is what church is about. The good shepherd knows where the sheep will be getting the best spiritual food and is in the church that preaches His word. The sheep who love the shepherd will come to that place with excitement because they know that they will have luscious green grass to feed upon. PR 14:12, 16:25 “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We find that there is trouble because of a sinful nature that makes us want to follow in the old paths. We have habits that keep us away from God’s best. MK 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself daily, and take up his cross, and follow me.” I want to give to you fresh attitudes that we need to help us be what Christ desires of us to be. I will be using the first person with the word I.

1. I must let go of self love with love for Christ. This takes an intentional act of my will. I must realize that he moment I will intentionally do some thing definite for God and others it will cost me some thing. I am expressing love. This act of selflessness and self sacrifice has to replace my selfishness. How does this work out in a world that says only take care of number one? Inwardly we are more worried than those of the past. Callused hands were the badge of the pioneers, but a furrowed brow is the sign of modern people. Their chief concern is physical and temporal. Vast numbers of people actually believe that if we all have food, shelter, clothing, education and recreational facilities we will have attained all that life offers. Many of our statesmen, much of our literature and most of our commercial ads support this utterly false view. Television ads lead us to believe that the greatest disaster that could come upon a man would be to have a five o’clock shadow or yellow teeth. This undue emphasis upon the importance of the body, and the neglect of more important issues, has made us more concerned with the wants of life’s journey than with its destination. Many surround themselves with luxuries and gadgets and hide from reality that they will have to face God one day. Jesus said, MT 6:25-34. "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! "So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. "So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Who is first in your life?