I Shall Not Want

 

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

Since the Lord is my Shepherd, then I shall not want. The word “want” as used in this verse has a broader meaning than might appear at first reading as not having any deficiency. It also means being utterly contented in the Shepherd’s care and consequently not craving or desiring anything more.

 

David writes this passage and David was a man who had experienced great need. Saul had pursued David for a long time and David’s son led a revolt against him. So, David knew what it was to live with great need.

 

“I shall not want” does not mean that a child of God will never experience need. One of the fallacies that is common among Christians today is the belief that if a person is prospering it is a significant mark of God’s blessing on their life.

 

David is saying that even amid hardships I can boast that I don’t lack the expert and compassionate care of my Shepherd.

 

The key to not living in want is who your Shepherd or Master is.

 

Matthew 6:24

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

 

A sheep can only belong to one shepherd. The sheep can only be loyal to one shepherd.

 

The same is true for us. We can have only one Shepherd. We cannot serve two masters. If we try, we will end up hating one and loving the other or being devoted to one and despising the other. No person can serve Jesus and anything else.

 

We have to choose to make Jesus our one and only Shepherd and Master.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is following and obeying Jesus as our only Master.

 

John 10:27

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

 

When we commit ourselves to Jesus as our Shepherd, three things become true.

 

We can hear and recognize the voice of Jesus our Shepherd.

We can be assured that Jesus knows us and thus know our needs.

We can follow Jesus as our Shepherd because we know He knows us and will meet our needs.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is committing ourselves to Jesus as our Shepherd and trusting Him to meet our needs.

 

John 10:11-13

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

 

The reason that Jesus as our Good Shepherd desires to meet our needs is because He is the Shepherd and not a hired hand. He owns us and wants the best for us. He will not abandon us because He loves us as His sheep.

 

He as our Good Shepherd lays down His life for us, His sheep. He not only is will to lay down His life for us, He did lay down His life for us.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for us, His sheep.

 

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 

The thief, Satan, comes to steal our joy, to kill our security, and to destroy our contentment. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, comes to give us abundant life. Life that is abundant does not have to be filled with material wealth. It is a life filled with joy, security, and contentment.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing joy, security, and contentment in life by following Jesus as our Good Shepherd.

 

Jesus calls us to follow Him as our Shepherd so that we will live our life with no want.

 

With Jesus as My Shepherd Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                               Joe