John 3:16 and Psalm 23

 

Jesus is my Savior
and He is my Shepherd—
He is the gift most precious
God as my Father
has in His mercy
and in His grace
and for His glory
in His Love granted.

Jesus is my Savior
for God in His glory
has provided my Master,
His Son, who came
down from Heaven,
lived His life perfect,
died for my sins,
rose up victorious.

Jesus is my Shepherd,
teaching God’s Way, blessing
His disciples beloved,
and every person
hungering for truth
and salvation—
His Living Water
His Bread of Life.

Praise Him with your heart,
oh, praise Him with your soul,
and within your mind,
with all your strength,
shout hallelujahs;
He is the Way,
He is the Truth,
He is the Life.

In my Quiet Time with God each morning, I return daily to particular words from His Word which speak to me of God’s goodness and His faithfulness. I begin with 1 Corinthians 4:6.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”
has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

This verse always reminds me of the incredible gift of Jesus as the Son of God, who came to walk among us and show us face-to-face the glory of God. This is how dearly God loves us. Next, I recall Lamentations 3:22-23.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

How good to be reminded how steadfast is the love of God. It NEVER ceases. His mercies never end. Every morning they are new. We are blessed by His perfect faithfulness.

Then I treasure John 3:16 and Psalm 23. In my heart they present and explore the incredible power of the Gospel lived out in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. And then, how beautifully Psalm 23, through the inspired words of David, describe how fully God shepherds and cares for us. For me these two scriptures harmonize the Love and Goodness He desires for each of us as His children. And daily I am reminded how blessed I am to have been saved by His grace so I may live in the midst of His proven, ever living love.

Imagine, being a disciple of Jesus while He lived in Israel. Imagine, waking up every morning to see His smile and hear His voice. Imagine walking along the road each day, hearing His teachings and His perfect examples, His jokes and His laughter. Imagine sharing meals with Him each day. Imagine watching and listening as He taught the multitudes. Imagine being a witness to His miracles. Imagine watching as He raised the dead. Imagine watching as He healed the lame, the blind, the deaf. Imagine watching as He came out on the stormy waters walking. Just imagine the blessing of being in His Presence. Imagine such sweet fellowship with Jesus.

 

Well, you and I who have believed in Jesus, we have such fellowship promised as the Holy Spirit awakens our hearts and minds each day to draw near in prayer and through God’s Living Word, into precious times with Him so we can watch and listen and find unspeakable blessings in His Presence. The more we get to know Jesus, the more we long to be with Him in such daily fellowship. As I begin my time with Him each day I repeat and pray these scripture passages. John 3:16 and Psalm 23—and as I do, I discover how God’s precious Word, as spoken by Jesus and David, fits together so perfectly. For, indeed, Jesus is my Savior, and again, Jesus is my Shepherd. How I need Him as both as my Savior and as my Shepherd every single day. Hallelujah! Is always there.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish but have eternal life.

 

How can I begin to express the riches of God’s blessings captured in John 3:16?  As Jesus compassionately challenges the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, during their nighttime meeting, He comes to this most beautiful of all God’s promises, focusing on seven words: (1) GOD, Himself, the great I Am, Hashem, Yahweh; the Eternal, the Creator; Great God Almighty loves the world in the way only He can love.  His (2) LOVE acts in self-sacrificing, purposefully surrendering AGAPE love on the Cross. He offers His LOVE to the (3) WORLD, on behalf of all people in all nations because of their universal sinfulness and need for a Savior. Our great God freely and willingly (4) GIVES His (5) SON and His perfect, sinless, unblemished life as the perfect Lamb and sacrifice for all of our sin. Because He performs this unimaginable act incorporating perfect mercy and grace, (6) WHOEVER, (anybody, everybody, anywhere, anytime); you and I and all we know and love and the many we do not know nor yet  love—ALL are included in this divine invitation to salvation. Then any who (7) BELIEVE—they are transformed from death to life eternal. Those who choose a life-changing, complete commitment to  Jesus as the Lord of their whole lives, receive eternal life in the blessed presence of God.

No wonder this verse alone has brought countless people into God’s Kingdom. No wonder this verse speaks inside the hearts of believers throughout the world in more languages than any other. This truly is the heart of the heart of God and His desire for all the people of the world to have the opportunity to find Jesus as Savior.

I can surely speak to the truth and reality of this verse .  I know GOD LOVES me as one among all the people in the WORLD—and I continually discover His LOVE meets our every individual need. He GIVES us His SON as He redeems us day-by-day as we are among the WHOEVER people who BELIEVE in Him.

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leaders me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

Not only is Jesus our Savior. He is also our Shepherd. I find it remarkable to note how powerfully David’s Psalm 23 explores  Jesus’ role as our Shepherd centuries before He came to live among us in this world. I find it even more remarkable how Psalm 23 illustrates His desire to LOVE, not only David, but each of us in such tangible ways. I am awed by the universal nature of God’s LOVE. Throughout out lives Jesus as our Savior and our Shepherd  inspires us to BELIEVE in Him as God’s SON, He provides for us our deepest needs (GREEN PASTURES) and (STILL WATERS.) He does redeem and (RESTORE) our very souls. He leads us in His Way (THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS) for the glory of His Name; and, by the way, sharing with us His own deep and abiding joy. As we BELIEVE and serve and trust in HIm, He prepares, provides for and protects us. He guides us both through and beyond our troubles. In giving us everlasting life, He makes us His children, so that His blessing becomes a testimony to His faithfulness even before our enemies. He treats us with the love of our royal Father for His children. Every day of our lives on earth and all of eternity with Him in Heaven become His good and perfect gift. We are blessed. THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD. 

In eternity Jesus is our Savior and our Shepherd. Today, Jesus is our Savior and our Shepherd. Forever in glory Jesus will be our Savior and our Shepherd. This is what our dying world so desperately needs to know. Here at home and all around us. Further afield, throughout our state and our nation. And to the ends of the Earth. This is not a multiple choice invitation with only one answer. It is an all of the above commandment and explanation for everyone of who has responded to GOD, His LOVE, for all the WORLD, expressed so powerfully as He GAVE His SON, so that (WHOEVER , that’s us) we have the opportunity to make the choice to BELIEVE and trust and follow Him, and so possess AND share eternal life.

What blessed and inspiring and challenging words to consider as I begin each day. Standing on the foundation of Jesus as my Savior and my Shepherd, truly makes each day one filled with wonders to behold as He loves and leads me. I cannot imagine missing such these precious times with my Savior and my Shepherd each and every morning.

Then I am prepared to pray for those God lays on my heart, and to intensely study and meditate on His Word as His Holy Spirit applies it to my heart for the day. He prepares His servant to bear testimony to His Glory and His Love each and every day. Amen!