FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE

Today’s Text: For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
(1Samuel 12:22)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re going to take a look at the last part of Psalm 23:3. The Lord will lead us in His way and not forsake us for His name’s sake. So many people see Christians as hypocrites because they claim to be living for God, but they are no different from the world. God leads us in the paths of righteousness because He knows that the life He wants us to live is better for us, but He also leads us in His way to protect His name. If God forsook His people, what kind of God would the world see Him to be?! He calls us to be true followers of His. He leads us in His way, and does not forsake us, for our own benefit and to bring honour to His name. I want to be a true follower of Christ and bring honour and glory to my Shepherd. Don’t you?

Today’s Testimony: Imagine if people could just look at you and know that you are a true Christian – before they’ve seen you do anything or heard you say anything. It is possible. I’ve had that experience many times. God has a high standard for His sheep because He loves us and wants what is best for us. If we truly live up to that standard the world will be able to know that we are followers of Christ at first glance. A life that is lived in Christ cannot but bring honour and glory to His name.
When I was about sixteen, my family and I were studying a few of God’s requirements for His people. One thing that we came across was His high standard of dress. Do we really dress for Christ and for Him alone? If Christ had to stand infront of us, would any of us feel uncomfortable with the way we are dressed? I didn’t dress totally for Christ at that stage.
We discussed that we should not wear any clothes that attracts attention to our bodies. One thing that needed to change was the tight pants I was used to wearing. The reason was because, like I said, they attract attention. My thoughts were, “But that’s why we wear pants!” Isn’t that so true – the reason we shouldn’t do something is so often the same reason why we do it in the first place. We love attention! We want to look good! We want to fit in! But what does God require?
It was not easy to change my wardrobe, but I then started wearing long skirts instead of pants. I do sometimes still wear pants, but I wear a long top over. I do look different from most of the girls I know, and it definitely wasn’t easy to make that change, but God had lead, and I had to follow.
On one occasion while in Cape Town we went to the same plant-nursery two days in a row. On the second day, the gentleman guarding the cars asked if my sisters and I were Christians. My step-mom told him that we were, and he said, “I can see by the long skirts they’re wearing.” That is only one of many similar stories. We can stand out for Christ in something as simple as our dress. And yet I also know that it is one of the hardest things for us to change. I didn’t write this testimony to tell you how to dress, I simply wanted to share how easy it is to be a witness for God – no words; no actions. But I do encourage you to take your dress-code to the Lord for checking. Ask Him if He is happy with the way you dress. Ask Him if He would have you change anything for His name’s sake. I want to follow Him wherever He leads, at all costs. Do you?

Today’s Task: Ask the Lord if there is anything in your life that He would have you change in order to bring honour and glory to His name. Ask Him to lead you in paths of righteousness, and then follow Him for His name’s sake. Ask Him for the strength to live for Him at all costs. Trust His standards, He knows what is truly best for us.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You that we can bring honour and glory to Your name simply by walking in Your paths of righteousness. There are so many things in our lives that we need to change, but You will not forsake us and leave us to struggle on our own. I thank You that You will help us to live totally for You. Help us to follow You always for Your name’s sake. Amen.

HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Today’s Text: Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. (Psalm 5:8)

Today’s Thoughts: Today we’re focusing on the second part of Psalm 23:3.A shepherd uses his staff to keep his sheep together and on the right road. These days they also use dogs to herd the sheep. Our heavenly Shepherd wants to keep us in His chosen path; He wants to keep us on the road toward Heaven. Sometimes we’re tempted to stray from God’s way because we feel that “fair’s fair”. We want to retaliate, and get our enemies back; or we don’t want to do what others ask us to do because we feel it is unfair. God doesn’t call us to decide when to act righteously, He leads us in that path all the time. We need to do what’s right in His eyes at all times, and simply leave Him to intervene if the situation is unfair. It’s definitely not easy, but God knows that. He will give us strength. Trust Him, and follow Him.

Today’s Testimony: One morning I went into the kitchen for breakfast and my step-dad asked me to grind up some seeds for his breakfast. We were both wanting to eat and I needed to grind up my own seeds too. In all fairness, according to the human heart, we should each have to grind our own seeds. But the Lord requires us to be obedient, and so I, not exactly very joyfully, but silently, ground up my step-dad’s seeds.
While I was busy the Lord and I had a talk about it. I knew that He wanted me to grind up those seeds whether it was fair or not, so we started talking about what He would have done. Jesus would have done every task that His earthly parents set before Him with joy. He would have been more than willing to be of service to them. The thought of the task being unfair never would have crossed His mind. And I said, “Lord, I can’t imagine myself doing this joyfully.”
The best option the following day, in human terms, would have been to make myself scarce and not be around when my step-dad was preparing his breakfast. But according to God’s way, that was not an option. I ground up my step-dad’s seeds the following morning, but I can’t remember what went through my mind.
The third day was when the real change took place. I went into the kitchen and quickly ground up my step-dad’s seeds before he got into the kitchen to ask. I did it as quickly as possible so I could surprise him when he asked. When he did come and ask me to grind up his seeds I could joyfully tell him that they were already ground up and waiting.
That was the last day that he asked me to grind his seeds. After that he ground them himself. In my opinion, the Lord simply wanted to teach me how to walk in His way of righteousness. Once I’d past the “test” I no longer needed to grind my step-dad’s seeds. The Lord often chooses other methods of training for me, and that’s because He wants me to live in Him and for Him. He wants each of us to follow Him as He leads us in His paths of righteousness. Will you follow Him?

Today’s Task: Forget what the world says is fair and unfair. Follow the Lord’s way no matter what, at all costs. Allow Him to lead you in paths of righteousness. Follow your Shepherd joyfully. God’s way is the best way. He blesses His faithful sheep.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You are a faithful Shepherd. Help us to be faithful sheep. I thank You that You do not leave us to stray in the paths of unrighteousness, but lead us in the paths of righteousness. Lord help us to follow You – always. I thank You that You care about Your sheep so much. Amen.