The Green Pastures
Henry Omotayo
The Green Pastures (Psalm 23:1-2)
Message No. 0514 | Twitter @GodandUs |
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In Psalm 23, David, a professional shepherd, used the analogy of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, to explain one of the roles God plays in our lives. In verse 2, he writes:
He makes me to lied down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
One may ask, why specifically mention the green pastures? Why not just pastures? In springtime, when rain falls regularly, the lawns in front of our houses come out in full force. They are green, good looking and need to be cut regularly to avoid having a bush around the house. However, there is a time in summer when the rain seems to cease and you must be really interested in keeping your lawn looking well, in order to maintain the same looks as it was in spring. This is the time you distinguish between those who maintain their environments and those who don’t care much. Those who care would water their lawns almost daily to keep them growing and looking good and those who don’t would give up while the lawn changes color from green to yellow because of the heat of the sun. Spoiler alert: don’t worry, most of us are in the second category.
Thank God that grass-eating animals are not domesticated in living communities, so there are no animals grazing on the lawns. If there are, such animals would reject the lawns when their color changes from green to yellow. Why? The answer is that yellow-looking lawns are not attractive, are in need of nutrients themselves, so they cannot provide any to animals. It’s the same feeling that humans have if they are presented with food that contain zero nutrients. The taste would be flat and it would look as though you’re eating mere planks.
When God created us, He planned two types of food for us – physical and spiritual. In Eden, He came down regularly to fellowship with Adam and Eve. That was the spiritual food. At the same time, He provided the fruits of the garden for them as physical food. Today, human beings place far more emphasis on the physical food, than the spiritual. We are so heavy with the physical food that we barely think of the spiritual. When we do, we partake without paying attention to the contents of the food. In other words, we cannot be bothered to check if the food contains green nutrients or if it already changed color to yellow.
The days are gone, or so it would seem, when the messages that came out of our pulpits, our radio and television channels were authentic and reliable. Those were the days of Billy Graham and other renowned Bible preachers. The messages were clear, pointed and genuine. In recent years, the Words that we hear from preachers have gradually lost core content and seem to appeal more to our physical needs than our spiritual. Unfortunately, babies in the Kingdom are not equipped with the knowledge to decipher between right or wrong. If not properly guided, they go to anywhere they see the label ‘Church’ and, as of today, these aren’t few. The question is, what kind of food is being served in these locations?
In the physical world, the food service providers are responsible for serving good, authentic food. This is the reason why they are controlled and licensed by the government. It is then left to the customers to choose which provider serves them better. On the other hand, though the government approves the establishment of religious organizations and locations, there is no control regarding the content that is served, and, thank the Almighty God that there isn’t, otherwise we will all be in trouble! Government control over our churches would be the worst nightmare anyone can imagine; left to them, the Bible would no longer be the source of the messages delivered in our churches.
This leaves us with the responsibility to self-control and ensure that the food we serve is authentic and grounded in the Word of God. But, make no mistake, the Owner of the work we do is looking at those of us who serve in this department of the Kingdom and, anyone who thinks that he or she could use the opportunity to preach this gospel for the manipulation of the sheep and to his or her own advantage had better think twice. When God sent Jeremiah to warn the preachers and prophets in Israel, He did not mince words. In Jeremiah 23:30-32, the Bible says:
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words everyone from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,” says the Lord.
As it is the responsibility of the shepherd to lead the sheep to green pastures, so is it the responsibility of the preachers to lead church members to God. As it would be better for restaurant owners to close shop rather than become sources of bad food to customers, so would it be better for preachers to stop preaching rather than become sources of error, confusion and deception to God’s sheep.
Dear preacher, to which pasture are you leading the sheep? Green or yellow? Let us examine ourselves to see if we are still fulfilling the assignment that God has placed in our hands. I pray that our Master will not find us wanting on the day we meet with him to give accounts.
Dear church member, when last did you read your Bible? Do you know that there is no greener pasture than in the Word of God? As it is the responsibility of restaurant customers to taste and determine which food source provides them good nutrients, so is it your responsibility to ensure that the Words you receive from preachers are not at variance with the written Word of God. I pray that we will all create more time to eat directly from the source of organic spiritual food. This is the one source that is sure to be devoid of confusion and constipation. Remain blessed and have a wonderful week!
PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
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