"Green Pastures"

"I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." (Psalms 119:99)

  You have got to love the way God works: His ways are always higher and greater than ours. Besides all the noise in the news, there are some very important things going on in our world today, some of which we can only shake our heads and be amazed in God's handiwork. In reading this verse, I pictured a lamb that has been satisfied in green pastures, content on where it has been placed, and simply enjoying the nourishment that it has been provided. Looking at it from another angle, it is said in almost every single sport or business or profession: those that are great at what they do set new records and achieve greatness; those that can't, teach. Don't ask me how that works, because I simply do not know; because you cannot teach greatness. It is something that is born inside an individual that they have from the moment of birth; something that sets them apart from their piers and makes them somewhat odd, as in the story of the "Ugly Duckling." In the case of David, his was pretty much the same; the runt of the family, sent out to care for the sheep, while his brothers were more fit to fight in the wars. Even when Samuel came to the house of Jesse to search out the new king, David was not even considered by his father to be one of his sons worthy to be chosen. After he brought out seven of his sons, Samuel had to ask, "Is this all you got?" And Jesse answered, "There remains one, but he is out tending the sheep"; as if a Shepherd could never be qualified to be chosen as King! God works in ways that don't quite fit the mold of what the world considers worthy of acceptance. In any case, my point is that David realized the green pastures that he was placed within, and there he remained...

"Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and imposters will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (2 Timothy 3:12-17) NLT