Jesus Leads the Way | Jan. 25th

  “He leads me.....

   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

   Psalm 23:2, 6

    Many years ago, my childhood friend and I went hunting in Montana. Don and Dora were an extended part of the family, and we stayed with them. Don, a lumberjack and skilled hunter, took us out for a couple of days in Big Sky country. He guided us through terrain we did not know, accounting for altitude and changing weather. Those days with Don, who is now with the Lord, have stayed with me, leaving lasting memories and lessons that continue to shape my understanding of guidance and trust.

   Reflecting on this experience, I am reminded to ask: Beloved, is the Lord your Shepherd? Have you entrusted yourself to Him, and are you following Jesus by faith? Just as Don guided us in the mountains, the Lord guides us in life, there is not a step in your life’s path that the Lord has not known and already traveled ahead of you. No pain or joy that He does not know the full scope of. Don pointed out things along the way and taught us to track in unfamiliar terrain, much like how the Lord offers His guidance. Don even provided a roaring fire with an old tree stump in 20 inches of snow, a welcome sight on a cold day in the woods, reminding me that God’s provision can come in unexpected ways.

  In much the same way, as Don led us up mountain paths and kept us safe, the Lord desires to be your Shepherd, guiding you through life. He will teach you in the paths of righteousness, protecting you while supplying all your needs. Over time, you will come to understand that His mercies are made new each morning with the dawn of a new day. He does make all things work for your good. That is the only true comfort in life and death, knowing that you belong to Christ.

  The goodness and mercies of God not only surround us but, like the warm fire Don made in the snow, endure in the memories of His unwavering faithfulness. These memories, like fires in the cold, sustain us through life’s trials. Resolve to follow Christ, confident that His presence leads you forward and His promises never fail.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight