"Green Pastures" -2

"To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalms 136:16)

  Just so we are clear, what want means to the believer is nothing more than wanting to obey the LORD and to walk in the power of that obedience; nothing else really matters, but that we do what God wants us to do. This is what Jesus meant when He told 'Nic at Night,' "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:21) It is not just a matter of coming clean and repenting; it is about pleasing God because you know how much He loves you and that you want to love Him back! You need to see the meaning of this word, 'wilderness,' because it is not just about a desert, even though it always is a desert, and yet it's not when it comes to our spiritual dependance upon God; in other words, nothing else can take God's place when it comes to spiritual things, be they whatever aspect of our lives in which they apply. Jesus clearly said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) We truly have no need at all for anything else, if indeed we are seeking His kingdom first and foremost. The main meaning that 'wilderness' represents, is that of "an uninhabited plain country, fit for feeding flocks, not a desert, a pasture." He leads me into green pastures, is a reference to Him leading me into the places that best provide for my eternal soul. The whole point about what want represents as an idol, is the fact that we are always wanting something more than God is actually wanting for us to have. This goes all the way back to the very beginning, to the Tree in the midst of that Garden; the Tree that became an idol, because it became that which was wanted, even though God said not to eat of it. That might be a hard thing to swallow, but to be perfectly honest, Jesus lost many followers when He tried to but this into perspective, by using His own body and blood. You either want it or you don't; there are many other things that can take the place of it, but nothing, absolutely nothing can actually take its place...

"Then they remembered those days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They cried out, "Where is the one that brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people? Where is the one whose power was displayed when Moses lifted up his hand -the one who divided the sea before them, making himself famous forever? Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea? They were like stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling. As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led your people, LORD, and gained a magnificent reputation."" (Isaiah 63:11-14) NLT