Focus: I'm Home At Last!

Text: Ps.23:6

"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."

We are journeying home, and we have an assurance from our heavenly home that goodness and mercy are coming closely behind us, ensuring that we are escorted home safely. Goodness and mercy serve as our pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. They follow on our heels very swiftly.

In this journey we have been through the valley of despair and despondency. We have been through hell and high waters. We have known enemies along the way and encountered rough terrains. But our Shepherd has been wonderful. His presence has been our greatest asset. We have felt perfectly safe in His presence. He has often gone before us and many times led us from behind. We have been fed at His prepared tablelands. He has guided us in the right paths and brought us through dangerous places. 

In fact, He has continued to feed, lead, and secure us. He leads us beside still or quiet waters - the waters of rests. He makes us lie down in green pastures. He restores our souls - our whole beings. He prepares for us tables of six-course meals. He fights our battles and brings us through places of deep darkness. He makes us unafraid of evil. He anoints our heads with His healing balms, and uses His rod and staff to our own advantage. He causes the cup of our lives to brim over with His great blessings. We never lack a thing with our Shepherd in charge of our lives. We need nothing that He cannot abundantly supply. 

In this journey home, we find the fortunes of goodness and mercy chasing after us and following fast on our heels, ensuring that no enemy or evil from behind us will ever harm us.

Now we are finally at the home of our good, great and chief Shepherd - the bishop of our souls. David the psalmist declares with certainty and audacity, "I will dwell permanently in the house of the Lord forever." For David this is one sure thing - dwelling in the Lord's house. In verse one, this Lord is the Shepherd, and now here in verse six, He has a home. The word for 'dwell' in Hebrew implies one who resides in a place permanently as a resident or citizen. He is not a temporal dweller or sojourner. He has come home to stay.

Goodness and mercy follow us all through our journey. They escort us home. They bring us safe and sound to the Lord's house, where our Shepherd will be eternally present in our lives and at home with us forever. What a Shepherd we have in Jesus Christ!

Take some time and just worship our Lord and Shepherd! He saves and secures us. He feeds and leads us. He guides and guards us. He sees before us, sees more and farther than us, sees over us, and sees beyond us. He is the God of vision and provision. He is our YHVH - our covenant maker and keeper, our caring and compassionate Shepherd, and our terrific loving Lord! 

There is no passive or dull moment with Him. He is actively involved with us, passionately and affectionately committed to us. In our low and high moments He sticks with us. He is eternally capable and reliable. Worship Him! Bless Him! Follow Him! Love Him! Give Him His rightful place in your life! Be eternally grateful to Him! He's bringing you safely home. Home at last! O yes!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter