“Time to come in!” When mom called, it was amazing how many things I found that needed to be done before heading in; one last swing, five more minutes of play, watching the lizards or bunnies a little longer. But I was being beckoned for my good, not to ruin my fun. Delay may have meant a cold dinner, missing something important, or safety from the dark. Sometimes it meant just being obedient.
As an adult, do I react the same way to God’s call? Do I drop everything and run into His arms, eager to follow where He is leading? I confess, my immediate response isn't always what I hope it would be. I might be distracted, not really sure I heard Him. Or maybe I don’t really want to go where He is calling, so I find other things that MUST be done before I go. This is unfortunate, because the best path to God is a straight line.
The Psalmist describes God as a good Shepherd. Sheep know the voice of their shepherd and, unlike goats, will follow where he calls. They will go directly towards the shepherd, no matter the obstacles between them. So a good shepherd will always make sure the path between him and his sheep is a safe one when he calls.
Dotted across the difficult terrain of Judea you can find paths cut across the hills. We would call them switchbacks, but they are straight lines traversing the elevation. The Hebrew word for straight comes from the same root word as right or righteous. The Shepherd in Psalm 23 leads us in straight paths, also rendered paths of righteousness. It’s a shepherd’s term.
This is a rich picture. We see a good Shepherd making a way for us to get through difficult terrain, step by step, with a straight path to Him. Occasionally we find ourselves going in the opposite direction of where we were just headed. It would be easy to be confused or discouraged. But if I go straight to Him when He calls, I can be assured I am on the path to where He is leading.
Lord, forgive me when I choose my own path or fail to heed your call. Let my ears be quick to hear and my heart eager to come straight to your side, following Your voice as you make a path ahead.
The Lord is my Shepherd… Psalm 23
