The Lord Is My Shepherd

(The following was written with Psalm 23 as the premise. You can read the brief, but entire Psalm immediately following the message.)

A shepherd, by definition guides and directs his flock in a particular manner and direction. This is what Jesus Christ does for us. It is also a definition for the God given gift of liberty, or as James called it, “the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25).

With Christ as our Liberty we are free to live, breathe and have are being as we see fit. But this liberty imposes, “obligations from God, and prescribes a rule of life; and it punishes transgressors, and rewards the obedient” (Adam Clarke).

The Apostle Paul was describing liberty when he said to the Corinthians, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” (1Corithians 10:23).

We are called unto liberty by the Spirit of the Lord. We are called, not coerced. We become a new man whose essence is that of Christ when we accept Christ as our Liberty. This is a choice of will. Will has the end as its object. Will is considered to be acting freely when acting for its own sake.

With liberty, our will isn’t relinquished or extinguished, but rather synced with the will of the Shepard. Liberty, in a sense, is the opposite of sin. Sin is departing from righteousness of our own free will. Liberty is maintaining righteousness of our own free will.

Christ our Shepherd and our Liberty leads us to still waters and leads us in the paths of righteousness. To follow Christ is an act of liberty. When we follow Christ, goodness and mercy will follow. Just kind of dwell on that for a moment and let the weight of it settle in.

So where does Christ our Liberty lead us to? To green pastures and still waters, to a restored soul that never wants, and of the path of righteousness that death dare not cross nor venture to.

Christ our liberty leads us to sanctification, salvation and finally, to “dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”.

This is Christ our Shepherd and Christ our Liberty.

Bill Hitchcock

Psalm 23

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.