Pathways of Righteousness

by Marolyn Burckhard

THE GOOD SHEPHERD
“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3
Who is “He”?
Psalm 23:1 tells us He is “The Lord our Shepherd.” The Lord our Shepherd leads me in the paths of righteousness. John 10:10-11 further reveals this Lord, our Shepherd, as Jesus. Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd.” He also tells us that He came that we “may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance—to the full, till it overflows.” (Amplified Bible)
NOT JUST A PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
Most people understand this to mean that we may have eternal life, life forever with God in the joys of heaven. And it does. But it is also for the here and now. For, in the same Psalm, it is written that “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Two things here to think about. If Jesus, the Shepherd, is preparing a table for us, what would that table look like? A table of lack or abundance? Since the ‘cup runs over’ it must be abundance…it must be too much. Too much for us to contain. After all, He is God; He is El Shaddai! Also, do we have any enemies in heaven? Since the obvious answer is no, this table cannot possibly be for the future and must be for me today.
ABUNDANCE NOW
Jesus our Good Shepherd desires to lavish on us an abundance of life now. He desires us to excel in this life, to have an abundance, too much, excessive amounts of all things that pertain to this life, now. He desires for us to have the best in material goods, more than we need so we always have plenty for ourselves and others who are in need. He desires us to be the best, most favored people in our businesses, committees, school functions—that is, to be the ones that joyfully lead the way in confidence with new strategies, new ideas that solve problems and bring more abundance of life to those with whom we deal. He desires that we have good and wholesome families, exemplifying His love to each other.
RECEIVE WITH THANKS AND JOY
Let’s get off the fence and receive these things with great thanksgiving. The voice of faith is joy. Joyful thanksgiving that we are being lead in the paths of righteousness and we receive by faith all that the Good Shepherd came to give. Remember “without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God MUST BELIEVE that He is AND that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)
HIS NAME IS LOVE
This is the desire of the Good Shepherd. This is why He came. A life full of joy and excellence and abundance is what He has to offer as He leads us in paths of righteousness---for His name’s sake. His name’s sake is His own purpose, His kind intent toward us for His name is Love. God is Love and desires to be known as Love and so without demanding some abstract obedience, He says “I am the Good Shepherd—follow Me and I will lead you in paths of righteousness to a full, joyful, abundant life.”