And the LORD shall...

 (One reason that reading other pastors' sermons is encouraging to me is that they often reflect back what their respective flocks needed to hear on that particular Sunday. It is a refreshing reminder that people everywhere are... people. Thank God for those who faithfully exhort the flocks that they so dearly love. They know the way out of the doublemindedness and carnality to a richer life and peace for all. They only want the best for all of us.)

“And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isa 58:11)

In Spanish, the verbs here appear individually in future tense: shall pastor, shall satisfy, shall make, shall be. The message conveyed is not that some day you will be able to count on things that you do not have today. God is giving you words of consolation and encouragement by assuring you of His unconditional presence, whatever happens later.

Also noteworthy, "shall guide thee" appears in Spanish as "shall pastor thee". "Guide" is a good word, but I think "pastor" conveys a fuller meaning. He that has been born again in Christ Jesus has entered "Pastor" GOD's hospital... straight into Intensive Care. He will patch you up and get you on your feet.

On top of that, He will set you on a path to seek and bring in others just like you. You shall become for other people that well-watered garden and refreshing spring.

Many of the disagreeable frictions in your life could be avoided. They proceed -not from others- but from your own stubbornness and unwillingness to submit to the guidance of the PASTOR. He leads you by the hand while you fight to free your hand from His grasp to go your own way... who knows to where?

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Co 3:16)

Some "believers" apparently do NOT know this. Two stubborn minds - yours and Christ's - cohabitating the same temple. Guess who is going to win? Guess how you are going to continue to be as long as you continue to ignore His instructions!

Do you want a more tranquil life inside and out? There is only one way: submit and obey.

In the Kingdom of God there is no democracy. The voice of the majority does not count. The words "in my opinion" carry no weight. Here, our MONARCH has decreed. Period. We conform or there will be disagreeable consequences. Long live the KING!

How sad! We are like the little kid in a full-blown temper tantrum because we wanted that piece of candy and Daddy said "no". The believer, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in him, should be able to see past the deceit and capriciousness of his own flesh and understand: "what GOD has prepared for me - the path that HE is leading me in - is the best!"

The sooner you figure that out, the better off you will be.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Ps 32:8)

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