HE LEADS IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
BREAD
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:30-32 (NIV)
11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. Psalm 119:105-106 (NIV)
7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. 8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:7-8 (NIV)
9 They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son. Jeremiah 31:9 (NIV)
21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
16 This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (NIV)
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Like sheep, humans require careful handling and detailed direction to flourish. Our great Shepherd knows this about us. He knows we will fail if we are left to struggle for ourselves. Left to our own devices, we wallow in self-destructive habits going nowhere fast. We stubbornly cling to that which we have seen will ruin lives almost oblivious to the pending danger. Most of us remain stiff-necked and stubborn desiring our own ways all to our great detriment and disadvantage. There is something simply terrifying about the self-destructive, deliberate ways of the human being ever insisting we know what is best for our lives. And all the while Jesus tells us “Follow Me” and I will make something of your life.” BHY
“Most of us get up in the morning saying, ‘I am going to make something of my life, and I’ll follow Jesus too.’ But I just want you to know that we can’t have it both ways. We have to have the formula right. ‘Follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and as you follow Me, I will make something of your life.’” Joseph Stowell, III
“We must remember that God will never drag us along the path of true-hearted discipleship. This would greatly lack the moral excellency which characterizes all the ways of God. He does not drag, but draws us along the path which leads to ineffable blessedness in Himself; and if we do see that it is for our real advantage to break through all the barriers of nature, in order to respond to Gods’ call, we forsake our own mercies. But alas! Our hearts little enter into this. We begin to calculate about the sacrifices, the hindrances, and the difficulties, instead of bounding along the path, in eagerness of soul, as knowing and loving the One whose call has sounded in our ears”. C H Macintosh
“We as Christians know that faith is taking God at His Word. And we realize that faith does not get us around our problems, but it gets us through them. Such a promise is found in Psalm 48:14, ‘For this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.’ His promise then is no matter how difficult we may find life to be, He will guide us all the way home. Isaiah 42:16 ‘And I will bring the blind by a way they know not. I will lead them in paths that they have not known.’ This is the way God leads His own. You and I are blind to the future, but He is not, and He has promised to lead all who will put their trust in Him. Sometimes, because our circumstances are totally out of our control, we not only have to believe these promises, but we must put them to the test.” Wales Goebel
“God promises us redemption, but His sacred path leads us away from safety, predictability, and comfort. Any attempt to fly over the dangerous terrain or make a detour to safer ground is doomed because it will not take us to God. Instead, it leads to a host of other idols that can’t provide us with the confidence of faith, the dynamic of hope or the passion of love we so deeply crave. Each day we either live for God or for other gods. In each moment of hardship we fear either God or man. When we choose to worship gods and fear men our lives will suffer an emptiness and turmoil that is not much different than trying to fill our bellies with dirt. At first we may feel full, but in short order our violation of God’s plan will lead to torment.”
Dan Allender
“God always has something for you that is greater than what you presently know, what you presently do, and what you presently experience. For now, you walk the pathway of a pilgrim, but one day you will actually arrive at your glorious destination. For now, you live a life of faith and believe in many things that you do not yet see, but one day you will enter faith’s full reward. For now, you are learning how to face difficulties and walk through hard times, but one day you will wear a victor’s crown. For now, you experience sorrows and shed many tears, but one day every tear will be wiped away. For now, you are living by faith, but one day you will see Him face to face.” Roy Lessin
“From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are welcomed into heaven, the language of Christ to you will be, ‘Come to me.’ As a mother extends her hand to her tiny child and woos it to walk by saying, ‘Come,’ even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you, bidding you follow Him as the soldier follows his captain. He will always go before you to pave your way and clear your path, and you will hear His life-giving voice calling you to follow Him all through your life; in the solemn hour of death, His sweet words with which He will usher you into the heavenly world will be, ‘Come, you who are blessed of my Father.’” Alistair Begg
“We should follow Christ in simplicity and faith, because the paths in which He leads us all end in glory and immortality. It is true they may not be smooth paths – they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the ‘city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.’ ‘All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant.’ Let’s put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, His purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy…..His dear love will make us far more blessed than those who sit at home and warm their hands at the world’s fire.” Charles H. Spurgeon
HEART SAVOR
• The call to all is “Follow Me.”
• If we claim to live in Him we are to walk as Jesus did.
• His ways are always righteousness and peace.
Beth Yoe's Sharing Bread 