John 1: 11, 12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
Deuteronomy 32: 9 – 13
9. For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
- He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
- As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings;
- 12. So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
- He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock; and oil out of the flinty rock;
- Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
These are three of my most favorite passages in the bible. They state in clear terms who God leads, how He leads, and where He leads to
- WHO: God’s people are his portion on earth. They are His children through a relationship of faith in Him and mutual love, and not through the fact of creation. God asks to be accepted, and it is acceptance and faith in God as a Father, that brings a person into relationship as a child of God. Though the whole earth is His, and He is administering the earth as royalty, His children are a special treasure to Him. What a comforting thought!
- HOW: God’s leadership has a described pattern – that of an eagle teaching its’ young to fly, and a shepherd leading his flock. This leadership pattern is a process, determined by God in His consideration of what is best for the led, and the faith of the led. It involves emotions, knowledge of the led, and evaluations of danger and external conditions surrounding the led.
Popular information has it that the mother eagle takes the role of teaching its young to fly very seriously. It is a task undertaken with multi-faceted techniques. It does this through demonstrating to the babies how to spread their wings by hovering over them mid air with its wings spread out. The mother eagle also makes the nest uncomfortable and lowers her food supply to make the eaglets want to leave the nest when they are grown enough to fly. If they are reluctant to fly, she compels them to do so by taking them out of the nest and dropping them mid air. Before an eaglet can crash down, the mother glides under it and catches it on its pinions. After a number of such demonstrations, the eaglet knows not to panic and learns how to fly.
She teaches, creates an environment that forces the desire to leave the nest, and compels the young to fly. And during the whole process, she is active in protecting the baby from any harm. By the end of it, the eaglet is able to live out its purpose as the king of the air – ruling and having dominion in its realms. What a fascinating and empowering process!
- WHERE: God leads His people from barren howling waste to a place of utter fulfillment and luxury. Still waters, green pastures, a laid table with array of produce, honey, oil, milk, butter, fat, choicest meat, grain, wine. What more motivation do you need to follow a father/leader like this?
Prayer: Lord, help me to understand that you are my father and shepherd. You know the end from the beginning. You made me and know what is the best environment for my nurturing. You never intended for me to be a robot, led by pre-programming and controlled by anyone, including yourself. You intended for me to live life as an exhilarating journey of purpose, joy and glory, and you are committed to teaching me and upholding me all journey long. Help me to know that as you set me free, your protecting presence is never ever far. Your presence is heaven to me. Amen.
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