Reflections on the Road: Week five

Reflections on the Road

Week Five

"God Provides for us"

Focus Passage: Psalm 23

Focus Verse: Psalm 23:1

Bible Reading: Mark 1-7

      Things looked bleak for the children of George Muller's orphanage at Ashley Downs England. It was time for breakfast, and there was no food. A small girl whose father was a close friend of Muller was visiting. Muller took her hand and said, "Come and see what our Father will do." In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but there was no money in the home's account. Muller prayed, "Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat." Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the local baker. "Mr. Muller," he said, "I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at 2 o'clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is." Muller thanked him and gave praise to God. Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart and repair it.

      Psalm twenty-three is written from the perspective of how the sheep views the shepherd.  In verse one the sheep says "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."  The sheep is possessive for the shepherd.  The sheep doesn't use a general term like "our" shepherd, but the shepherd was his shepherd.  They had a close relationship and part of that relationship was how the shepherd provided for the sheep.  The concept of want means to not lack any good thing.  The ministry of the shepherd is not to provide for our every whim, wish, and desire, but to provide what is necessary, what is good for us.  The shepherd had to provide good things for the sheep in order for them to live.  Without the shepherd, the sheep would eat things that would be bad for them or wander into danger.  Our good shepherd does that for us every day.  He provides the good things that we need in His timing.  As a believer, we can rejoice in how God provides for us, mind you not in the ways that we always expect (or demand at times).  James tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Light.  Our Good Shepherd loves to provide for you and me.  He is actively providing for you right now.

Reflection on the Road:

Take a moment and reflect on ONE way God has provided you in the past and one way God is providing for you right now.  Write those things down and keep them in a place where you can see it often (fridge, bathroom mirror, etc).  When you wonder "God, can you provide for me" look at those and be reminded that God does indeed provide.