Words of Grace | Psalm 23 | He Leads Me in Paths of Righteousness

Psalm 23 - “He Leads Me in Paths of Righteousness”

Many people today confuse the nature of true freedom. We think freedom is found in forging our own path through life and by being “true to ourselves” or striving to live “the best version of ourselves.” While those might be some of the results of following the Good Shepherd, they are not the primary purpose of our lives. Psalm 23 tells us that true freedom is found along someone else's path, not my own.

Psalm 23:3 conveys the idea that the shepherd is leading, and is therefore ahead of us, and we are behind him, following in his footsteps.  John 10:4 says: “....he (the shepherd) goes before them (his sheep), and the sheep follow for they know his voice.” Notice, the  Good Shepherd “leads me”; he does not drive me.

So true happiness and fulfillment is found in listening to the voice of our Good Shepherd and following in his ways. All other paths, while pleasurable at first, ultimately lead to places where we find ourselves only falling into new forms of bondage and addiction instead of greater freedom and liberty. Haven’t you found that to be true in your life? Can you think of a time where you pursued something instead of Christ only to find that it brought you pain, emptiness, and heartache?

Take time to consider whether you are on his path right now? In what ways are you tempted to wander away from the paths of righteousness to go your own way? Have you begun to think that the grass is greener somewhere else, even though you know it is a “pasture” where Jesus does not dwell?

It may be you haven't fully left the “paths of righteousness” yet you’re flirting with that danger. Perhaps it's a relationship you know you shouldn't be in – it is not a path of righteousness. Maybe it's what you are consuming online. Maybe it’s the choices you are making with your money or your time. Two degrees of divergence today might mean a mile divergence next year.

Consider the road you are on, and who is leading you, and where that path might end. Life is a journey – we are always on the move, always traveling, and we're either following in the ways of the Good Shepherd or we’re following the road that leads to destruction.

In my experience, I found that wrong steps in life are nearly always the outworking of a prior neglect in listening to the Good Shepherd. Are you listening and following Him? Or are you merely going your own way?

Until next time, may the goodness and mercy of God follow you all the moments of this day!