St Andrews PCEA Church - Nairobi

Faith Booster 68, 28th January, 2010

“My table thou has furnished in the presence of my foes” Psalm 23: 5
Your hand is in the hand of the Good Shepherd
David realized this unfavorably multicolored terrain of friends and foes. His admirable realism makes him recognize the existence of enemies. He recognizes that not everyone will be cheering you on...there are some who itch to jeer you
not everyone is praying for your promotion…some are raking their heads as they scheme on how to bring you down
not all the friendly are friends…some are waiting for you to falter, and then they will fill the world with the shouts of “I knew it! I knew it!” or “what did you expect?”
While some are hypocritical, there are others who are bold enough not to masquerade – they show it openly and even tell you directly that they hate you. Your conscience may testify to you that you may have peace and goodwill to all others, but you have no guarantee about the attitudes of others towards you. Please by all means take care of your turf, as Paul says “As far as it concerns you, be at peace with all people.” But there is no way you can say “Everyone loves me!” because chances are very high – in fact ultra high that that is not true.
David’s hope was built on the confidence that His Shepherd was authentic – not a masquerader, impostor, pretender or a fake.
In fact His Shepherd was not only true but was truth itself– His Shepherd was not only faithful, but was faithfulness itself.   David’s hope was built on the confidence that His Shepherd would navigate him past all open and hidden human enmity.
Friend, when your steps are guided by the compass of God’s will, those who oppose your presence or project  your mission will be thinking that they are fighting you…they will think it is you they are pushing out. But because your rhyme is tuned to God’s will, and where you are at is a place of God’s mapping and interest, they will actually be fighting God.  Thus the battle will not be yours; it will be the Lord’s.  And in such a battle, I leave the loser and the winner and the drama of victory to your imagination!
Your enemies may think that their schemes will scare you to relocate…or make your tremble to their knees…unsettle you to a place of compromise. But to their dismay your Good Shepherd roots you amongst them and ensures they watch as you flourish. They will wait for your downfall, but their necks will keep craning…their necks will pain and ache as they keep looking up as they watch you rise!
When the rain falls hard and the strong winds come and you feel it will blow over…trouble under your feet and nothing over your head…and feel yourself running for cover…remember that your hand is in the hand of the Good Shepherd.

Pastor Buri E