Led to Where is Right

As we journey through life's challenges, how do we know which way God wants us to go? Psalm 23 says, "He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake."

God does not always lead us where we want or where we expect, but he leads us to where is right. Sometimes we think right as in correct. It includes that, but it does not just mean correct. God's path is correct and accurate because it is righteous and just. This idea is associated with what is righteous. Righteousness and justice are the same concept in the Bible.

It is the righteous path. These are the paths he leads us on: paths that align with the character, with the morality, and with the ethics of God. What is the choice that rejects sin and chooses what is good? That is how Jesus leads me. If I am ever wondering which direction I should go, the first question I need to ask is this: which path looks more like the ways of Jesus and least like the ways of sin?

For His Name's Sake

Why does Jesus guide us? Why does he care for us and lead us? Is it because I am a good person? Because I am the best sheep? Is it because of my accomplishments?

It is because of his name. For his name's sake is not a throwaway line. God is faithful because he is true to his name and true to his character. God is not faithful to me because I am worth it. It is not because I have earned it. It is not because I have proven it. It is not a transaction I have with God. Our shepherd isn't good to us because we're good sheep. He knows we're bad sheep. For the sake of his name and of making his character known, he is faithful. He leads me because he is the Good Shepherd and nothing I do nor anything done to me will ever cause my shepherd to reject me.

This is a significant theme in the Bible. God's glory is at stake here. If you are a follower of Jesus, you belong to him. He will care for you because the way you are cared for reflects on him. He is personally invested in your life.

Not Because We Earn It

We see this in the Exodus when God's people reject him. They rebel against God, and Moses appeals to God on their behalf. He does not say the people are great. He says the nations have heard that the Lord is with these people. Moses reminds God that His strength and great love should be displayed. And then God replies that He has forgiven them as Moses asked.

This showed the nations what God is really like. He is actually merciful. People back then had this idea of pagan gods where you had to appease them or they would destroy you. Moses is asking God to prove that he is different.

Trusting the Shepherd's Character

Our relationship with our shepherd is not transactional. He is not good to us only if we do good things for him. He is always faithful. So what is our job? Our job is to follow him as he guides us because he guides us in ways that are righteous. So we follow him wherever he leads.

We must trust that his ways are better than all of the other counterfeit shepherds that are out there. It is hard to do this because I want to follow my own path. I want to go my own way. But I need to remember who it is that calls me by name. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.

How would trusting in God's true character change the way you respond when God seems silent, when circumstances go badly, or when you feel like you have failed Him?