Tag: safety
Saved to the Uttermost
Our position as God’s children has been given to us as a gift, regardless of our lacking deservedness. So where we were once enslaved we are free, where we were in danger we are now safe, where we were dead in our trespasses we have been healed, where we were in decay from sin we have been kept and where we were broken we are now whole again.
Jesus is our guarantee (Hebrews 7:22) and He abides forever (Hebrews 7:24). Therefore, we read in Hebrews 7:25, “Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”.
Notice the words forever and always in the above scripture! When needing encouragement, there is no better place to look than in the truth of God’s word. We often do not place enough weight on the finality of our salvation. It is difficult to imagine the completeness of our forgiveness when we continue to fall short. We naturally live on a conditional basis. If someone is kind to us then we are kind to them; if we are given a smile then we are approved, if we are helped then we feel loved and if someone calls then we are remembered. We could go on and on with this list.
We cannot treat our relationship with Christ the same as any earthly relationship. Although our thinking falters, His is perfect. Our actions are lacking, God’s love is complete and unconditional. Why is this important to embrace? Because regardless of how we feel or what we have done, His love for us remains the same. Those He has chosen to be His children are His children, never disowned. Yes, we will always be undeserving if resting upon our own abilities, but in Christ we are 100% justified. God’s love is fully complete based on His perfect holiness. There is nothing we add, there is nothing needed. Hebrews 7:25 says, “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him”.
To be saved means we have been delivered, we are protected, we are healed, we are preserved, and we are made whole. There is no question. Our position as God’s children has been given to us as a gift, regardless of our lacking deservedness. So where we were once enslaved we are free, where we were in danger we are now safe, where we were dead in our trespasses we have been healed, where we were in decay from sin we have been kept and where we were broken we are now whole again. This is marvelous! There truly are no words to express the magnitude of Christ’s gift to us.
We cannot miss the time extension of salvation. Forever. This literally means full-ended or entire – to the uttermost. We don’t lose God’s gift, it does not end when we fail or until the next time we falter. Salvation is given beyond the most extreme human understanding of time. Never to run out. Never to be used up. We are completely saved from the guilt, the power and the eternal consequences of sin.
But, you say, there must be something expected to obtain this marvelous gift! There is no condition upon God’s employ of it but there is an action of our will, a response to His call. Salvation is for “those who draw near to God through Him [Christ]”. Have we come near the throne of Jesus? Do we worship Him? Are we in agreement with our need of His salvation? Do we live for Him? The challenge is to take these questions a step further. How have I come near the throne of Jesus? How do I worship Him? How are these applications seen in my life?
The answer to the first set of questions are either yes or no. Jesus did not die for our convenience, just to be sought when we are desperate. He committed His life for ours, continuously extending grace. “He is able to save, from the power, guilt, nature, and punishment of sin, to the uttermost, to all intents, degrees, and purposes; and always, and in and through all times, places and circumstances” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary).
We are saved, we are safe, and we are blessed, because of Christ. At all times and in all circumstances, we can be encouraged and we are to be joy-filled. Romans 5:9-11 says, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath [of God] through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Be encouraged, my friend! If you have responded to Christ’s call, you are saved to the uttermost. There is incredible joy in this truth no matter what circumstances may surround you. The world may seem scary and man’s message is full of uncertainty and sinful vices, but in this scary world God’s truth gives peace and erases doubt. His power overcomes the control of a sinful nature. God’s hand is over all things. Nothing is surprising to Him and He is certainly big enough to handle all concerns, problems and actions of man. And through all things, He holds His children, He will not lose them nor forsake them. His love for you has no end and no limits.
Focus Heavenward with me to the praise of His name alone, Sharyn.
Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
For His Name’s Sake
I love how John Wesley’s Notes on the Old Testament explains the words, ‘He restores my soul’ – “He brings it back; from its errors and wandering. Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness.”
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Psalm 23:3
Ps 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Think of what it means to be restored. I love restoring old furniture. I don’t necessarily bring the item I’m working on back to its original state, instead I refresh it by putting on a new coat of paint. Often, screws need to be tightened and seams need regluing in order to strengthen the piece. I normally sand the wood pieces before I paint, and sometimes I sand after, to give it a ‘loved’ look. Reupholstering can also give a fresh new look to some pieces but older items may need the cushioning replaced in order to really strengthen and fix the entire object.
When I looked up the Greek word restore is translated from, I was presented with quite a long list of definitions. Generally, its meaning is to retreat again, bring back home again, to call to mind, to continually deliver. The words recall, recover, refresh, relieve, rescue, retrieve and to cause to return are included in the long list of expressions defining the word ‘restore’.
The above seemed a lot to decipher, so I looked at the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to try to get some additional insight. Here are a few verses using the same Greek word <shuwb> or restore.
Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary says “to restore the soul is to revive or quicken it.
Ps 80:3 O God, restore us, and cause Thy face to shine [upon us], and we will be saved.
There are numerous uses of this same word throughout the Bible, many in the book of Genesis. The majority of uses for this word have the same thought – return(ed), returned continually, brought back, brought again, certainly return, restore(d), come again, bring again, to deliver, and draw back.
Psalm 23:3 says He restores my soul. God comforts His children. God refreshes His children. Not necessarily by changes that occur outside, but by those that come from within.
Consider. How long does an outward change last if only superficial? In other words, if I don’t take the time to fix the integrity of the furniture I restore, it will still be weak even though the outside may look new. God restores our soul, the very center of who we are. He refreshes us from the inside. Initially, He saved my soul from the grip of sin so that I would have eternal life. Continually, He brings me back from wandering by His guidance and protection. When I am weak, God gives me refreshment in His truths and strengthens me.
I love how John Wesley’s Notes on the Old Testament explains the words, ‘He restores my soul’ – “He brings it back; from its errors and wandering. Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness.”
God not only has gifted us with eternal life, He also is here to direct us and guide us, to restore us, to bring us back when we go off in the wrong direction, to give us rest when we become weary. This is a beautiful picture of our Great Shepherd and His continual care for His children. “Just as a shepherd brings back his wandering sheep from those craggy, untrodden paths, wherein they would lose themselves; and leads them into plain and easy ways, wherein they find rest and safety.” Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary
“When the soul grows sorrowful He revives it; when it is sinful He sanctifies it; when it is weak He strengthens it. … Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Pray to Him then for the blessing – ‘Restore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!” Treasury of David
Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
God not only restores my soul, He leads me, He guides me, He puts me on a straight path, the right path.
Think of those times you’ve taken a wrong turn. About twenty years ago, my husband and I surprised my parents with a trip to Alaska. My Dad had always dreamed of going there. While we were walking through some ruins from the 1964 earthquake that registered a 9.2 on the Richter scale, my husband took a turn and we all followed. Soon, we found ourselves right in the middle of mosquitos nesting. This was as horrible as it sounds: the little critters were everywhere, our skin was covered and if you opened your mouth to say anything or scream, they entered your mouth. I remember having mosquito bites on my tongue, and in my ears along with every exposed skin surface. God doesn’t lead us on a path of calamity, he leads us on His path of righteousness.
Ever have those times where you don’t know which way to turn? The direction you should take doesn’t seem clear and there doesn’t seem to be a good answer or right choice. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Several of us have been there multiple times. Some may even be there right now. What do you do?
Always, always, always go back to the truths you know in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23:3 says God will guide us to His way, what is best. Place your trust completely in His truths given to us through His word. You can rest in the fact that God does what He says. His answers may not come as quickly as we would like which means we need to wait. His answers may also not be what we want, but they will be what we need. His answers are often not easy, but will cause us to trust Him every step we take. Remember the truths written for us just in this Psalm alone.
Ps 23:1-3 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Ps 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Ps 31:3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.
Pr 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,
“In the paths of righteousness; in straight, and plain, and safe paths, where the sheep is neither hurt, nor wearied, nor in danger of wandering. By his word he directs me to the right ways of truth, and holiness, and righteousness, and by his Spirit he inclines and enables me to choose them, and to continue to walk in them.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary
Ps 143:8-10 Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in Thee; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to Thee I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in Thee. 10 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God; let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Isa 42:16 "And I will lead the blind [literal or figurative] by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone."
I have been saved from sin, I am continually led by my Shepherd to all that is needed, and I am saved to live a life in sync with His will. Only God is able to guide me into His ways. There is no possible way I am able to seek out His truths and follow them on my own without the help of the Holy Spirit. But, being saved from sin I am saved to righteousness. This is my hope, what I know for certain. God is my guide and He never fails to restore His children and guide them – even when they get lost or stray off the path, even when the way seems unclear or difficult. A shepherd will carry the weakest sheep if needed until they are strong enough to walk on their own. Do you trust Jesus to shepherd you?
Consider. The promises of God are certain. The faithfulness of God is sure.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
2Co 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
1Th 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Ps 36:5 Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness [reaches] to the skies.
Why does God restore my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness?
For His name’s sake.
On account of who He is. His character. To display the glory of His grace towards those He loves. Because He is perfect and good.
We are likened to sheep. We easily lose our way and will perish without a Shepherd. It is not because of anything in us that we are able to live lives of righteousness. I am not worthy. But God is and it brings great glory to God’s name when He guides us in righteousness, protecting us from harm. This is a display of His power and faithfulness.
Ps 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.
Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
To God be the glory, great things He hath done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
Fanny Crosby, 1875
The Lord is my Shepherd
Truth – God is our Shepherd.
What does a shepherd do? A shepherd feeds, guides, and protects. A shepherd tends a flock, watches over it, takes care of it, keeps it from harm, and leads it to green pastures where there is plenty of nourishment. God, as our Shepherd, cares for us and attends to all our needs. He leads us to safety and even draws us back when we wander.
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In late May of this year, I published a study titled “Dinosaur Age”. This study began with the explanation that I was sharing it in an audience the median age of 85 at the assisted living facility my Mom resides at. The sweetest blessings have come from that time. You have to picture individuals slowly entering a room using a cane, walker or wheelchair. Most of them, beautiful white hair the color of snow, thin wire rimmed glasses and adorable smiles (albeit with some teeth missing). The best part was the desire for encouragement in God’s word. It is my privilege to have been asked to continue a study once a month at this facility. So as I spoke with my Mom about what might be a good topic to concentrate on, she suggested that they all have the common need to continue to be useful even with bodies that don’t function quite right anymore. We started our monthly study in Psalm 23, last month and had an encouraging time looking at scripture that many of them were familiar with in their remembrance of hearing the words. I am greatly blessed by remembering our Lord as our Shepherd. I pray you are blessed also!
His Care.
Truth – God is the Author and Giver of our physical bodies.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
God is the Lord. Jehovah – the Self-Existent One, the Eternal One.
This is important to understand in order to accept the truth that God can do anything He wants. God is eternal, meaning He has always been in existence, even before time began. There is no one other than God who is able to claim this truth.
God existed before creation. He is the author of all creation. Therefore, He has license to do what He wants with His creation. Consider. If I make something – a quilt, a cake, or even plan a party – I am the one who has the right to do it the way I think is best. Usually, I even have a plan in my mind of how it will turn out.
God made us, therefore, He has the right to do with our lives what He deems best. Well then, we might ask, why would He give me a body that is falling apart, or the aches and pains of getting older?
Truth – God is our Shepherd.
What does a shepherd do? A shepherd feeds, guides, and protects. A shepherd tends a flock, watches over it, takes care of it, keeps it from harm, and leads it to green pastures where there is plenty of nourishment. God, as our Shepherd, cares for us and attends to all our needs. He leads us to safety and even draws us back when we wander. Because we’re talking about God as our Shepherd, we must define who the flock is. The flock is everyone who has truly repented of sin and follows God in obedience, having accepted the promise of eternal life given by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are God’s children, the flock, His sheep.
It is noteworthy that this Psalm follows Psalm 22, commonly referred to as “The Psalm of the Cross”, which is full of lamenting over what looks like the lack of God’s answer to David’s prayers. The Psalmist begins verse one of Psalm 22 with a repeat of the words spoken by Jesus in His last hours on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” It is necessary to recall here that it is the shed blood and suffering of Jesus which allows us to have a relationship with God so that we are even able to say “The Lord is my Shepherd”. God does allow His children to suffer but ultimately it is for their good and His glory.
Consider. When do you truly feel the need to prostrate yourself before the Lord? Is it when everything is going well or when you are ‘at the end of your rope’? When we feel strong in ourselves it is easy for us to forget we require a Shepherd. We then depend upon our own strength and wisdom which is sorely lacking. Weakness confirms our need to hold the Savior’s outstretched hand.
Joh 10:11-15 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Isa 40:11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
Eze 34:11-12 For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.
God will protect and provide for His children. We can have confidence in His care here on earth and forever in heaven. Psalm 23 is full of the comforts offered to God’s children as His sheep. Notice the Psalmist, David, refers to God as ‘my shepherd’. This denotes a personal relationship with him.
Consider. You wouldn’t introduce someone as ‘my dad’ if indeed he was just an acquaintance. So, there is a criteria for us to be able to call God our Shepherd. We must acknowledge Him as our heavenly Father and accept the gift of His Son’s payment for our sins. Only then can we gain the confidence of His grace towards us and His care for us.
Ps 79:13 So we Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture will give thanks to Thee forever; to all generations we will tell of Thy praise.
Joh 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 "I and the Father are one."
1Pe 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Look at how God is described in the above verse, “the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls”. Think of what those words mean. First, we have God as our Shepherd, and His continual care for us. Then we see God as our Guardian meaning He oversees our life. A guardian is responsible to protect and care for those in their charge. When God, in His grace, calls us to Himself as His children, He gladly takes us under His care. He doesn’t do this with a haphazard commitment. He takes on the responsibility not only for our lives here on earth but for all eternity. There is great peace in the truth that the Lord is our Shepherd! No wonder, Psalm 23:1 goes on to say, “I shall not want”.
Truth – I shall not want. Rather, I shall have no need for want. Everything necessary is given to me by my Father in Heaven.
Think! What does ‘I shall not want’ mean? Does it mean that anything and everything my heart desires will be given to me? Of course not! But what it does mean is that I will never lack what I need to do God’s will, to fulfill His plan for my life.
I may feel as if I need more strength to complete even simple daily tasks on my own. God knows exactly what truly needs to be done and will provide strength enough for that. Many of you are no longer able to prepare your own meals, that’s okay, God has provided someone who will do that for you. Most of you are unable to drive, that too is okay, because you have been given transportation when you need it. In your eighties, nineties and even into the century mark, you can be assured that God will continue to bless you with all that is needed to please Him. You may not be able to train for a marathon, let alone run one, but you will reach the prize. The end goal is eternal life with Christ. If you’re His child, you’ve already received the winner’s ribbon – it was pinned on your heart the day you accepted Jesus.
God will not withhold the blessings that allow you to live a life pleasing to Him. You will not fail because you lack what is needed to fulfill His plan for you. If you do not have everything you desire it is because God has not considered it necessary.
God will feed us, He will lead us (Isa 40:11)
God will provide guidance for us from others who follow His truths; In God, there is no need to fear, nor be dismayed; there is no lack (Jer 23:4)
God will search for you and seek you out when you stray (Eze 34:11-12)
God has ransomed you with His Son’s very life (John 10:11)
“I shall not want”. God’s children can say those words with confidence. We all have a choice to be satisfied with what God has supplied. We have a choice to be content where He has us.
Php 4:19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Notice the words in the scripture above. It says God shall supply. Not maybe, not perhaps, but will!
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
Again, carefully take notice of the words used in the previous reference. It says we will ‘always have all sufficiency in everything’, ‘an abundance for every good deed’. Without the cross, we are lacking; with the cross, at the feet of the Savior, there is no want.
Read how Paul encourages the Ephesian church: Eph 3:13-19 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. 14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; [and] that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Don’t lose heart either for others or for yourself! Although you may feel like your physical body is waning, God will continue to strengthen you in your heart and soul. For His glory. He will continue to bless His children with the knowledge of His security and a love immeasurable until that day you are complete in Him in heaven. The Annotated Bible Notes says we can be assured that ‘nothing really beneficial to body or soul will be withheld’.
Re 7:17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."
The role we have in attaining the comfort of God as our Shepherd, and having confidence in His every provision, is that of a sheep. Sheep stand meek before their shepherd, willing and wanting to be led. Sheep know the voice of their shepherd and they follow him. Do you recognize God as your Shepherd? Are you seeking to follow Him? If yes, then trust in God’s care.
Ps 34:9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him, there is no want.
Ps 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Mt 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
Lu 12:30-32 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Ro 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
“I shall not lack for temporal things. Does he not feed the ravens, and cause the lilies to grow? How, then, can he leave his children to starve? I shall not want for spirituals, I know that his grace will be sufficient for me. Resting in him he will say to me, "As thy day so shall thy strength be." I may not possess all that I wish for, but "I shall not want." … It is not only "I do not want," but "I shall not want." Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, "I shall not want." Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom shall not find me destitute. I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because "The Lord is my shepherd." Treasury of David
Mt 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?
One of the poor members of the flock of Christ was reduced to circumstances of the greatest poverty in his old age, and yet he never murmured. "You must be badly off", said a kind hearted neighbor to him one day as they met upon the road, "you must be badly off; and I don't know how an old man like you can maintain yourself and your wife; yet you are always cheerful!" "Oh no!" he replied, "we are not badly off, I have a rich Father, and he does not suffer me to want." "What! Your father is not dead yet? He must be very old indeed!" "Oh!" said he, "my Father never dies, and he always takes care of me!" This aged Christian was a daily pensioner on the providence of his God. His struggles and his poverty were known to all; but his own declaration was, that he never wanted what was absolutely necessary. The days of his greatest straits were the days of his most signal and timely deliverances. When old age benumbed the hand of his industry, the Lord extended to him the hand of charity. And often has he gone forth from his scanty breakfast, not knowing from what earthly source his next meal was to be obtained. But yet with David he could rely on his Shepherd's care, and say, "I shall not want;" and as certainly as he trusted in God, so surely, in some unexpected manner was his necessity supplied. John Stevenson.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. These are beautiful words to the believer. Find contentment in His provision, have confidence in His Truths, and trust in His Care.
