Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Verbs are action words. They indicate how the rest of the sentence relates to the subject. The subject of course is the Lord. What is unique is the object of the verb, you and me. He makes me, He leads me, He restores me are unique in relationship between our Lord and ourselves.

He makes us implies that we are subject to Him and that we have no choice. While my life experiences tell me that I have made choices and the results are consequences, both good and bad. Yet here I am in God’s will as if it didn’t matter what path I chose it would lead me here. God only knows how that happened. I know I don’t.

He leads me seems clearer. I am looking to follow. I see Him as the example. I see Him as the trusted guide. I am looking to what He is doing. Following is just a matter of vision, keeping my eyes upon Jesus. Yes I blink, yes I fall asleep, yes I get distracted, but my intention is to turn my eyes upon Jesus.

He restores is the most difficult. I don’t have any involvement in that. The other verbs requires cooperative effort on my part, an awareness, a response. Restoration happens not because I have done anything. It is not based on my actions, my vision, or my relationship. It happens because of who He is and what He wills. I am not involved because I would put a GPS system on a 1936 Cord Speedster during restoration and that was not in the design.

The bottom line is that I am going to pay a little more attention to the verbs in my life.

Acts 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Exhortation is a complicated word because it can be used in more than one way. I chose this verse of scripture to make this point in particular. It can be a valuable tool in the Kingdom to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ.

When you see a brother or sister in Christ doing right, no matter what it is in song, or prayer, or service, or speech; do you give thought to take on the role of a cheerleader? It seems silly to think that way, after all they are doing good, they are on the right path. Why do they need encouragement?

I’ve been serving as best I can for a long time. No one knows the struggles I’ve had in wondering if I am taking the right direction or if perhaps I’ve made a mistake. I tend to hide my doubts, trying to be positive. You will never see that, you would not know if I did not share these thoughts. All who serve have these moments, it is human, we are human. Knowing that Christ deserves our best will always leave us short of His example, no matter how hard we try.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Esteeming is a mind set. It has nothing to do with one being better than another, it is having that “you first” attitude. You cannot be sincere in your exhortation without placing the needs of another before your own interests.

Thank you Mike Schlimgen for the inspiration for this devotional.