Louise Gevers
He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths as he has promised. Psalm 23:3, GNT
Where would sheep be without a shepherd; where would believers be without God, and his unfailing love for all who love and trust in him? The Shepherd’s Psalm leads the way in showing, in well-loved, meaningful words, how God faithfully shepherds the person who daily walks with him. He tenderly guides and provides for them in each situation as, together, they negotiate life’s seasons with its ups and downs.
When we were expecting our first child, we got the news that my husband would serve in a church in another province in the new year – three months before I would give birth – and two and a half hours drive away from our home town. What would I do without my trusted doctor; or my family and friends to share in this momentous occasion in our lives? We trusted that God knew best in our situation.
No doubt Mary and Joseph felt the same when Caesar Augustus issued the decree that everyone had to return to his home town for a census. Mary, heavily pregnant, would be subjected to a long trip to Bethlehem on a donkey, taking five to 10 days under those conditions, as Joseph was King David’s descendent. Who would help them, but God?
Philip Yancey said of them. “Today as I read the accounts of Jesus’ birth I tremble to think of the fate of the world resting on the responses of two rural teenagers.”
However, these ‘rural teenagers’ weren’t on their own mission; theirs was God-appointed –His highest possible calling –to bring the Saviour into the world. Each was a willing, believing participant who entrusted the inevitable hardships they knew they’d face on their journey, and beyond, to Him. They were inspired, and committed.
The angel who’d visited Joseph in a dream had said, “Joseph … do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus – because he will save his people from their sins”. (
Matthew 1:20-21)
And God didn’t disappoint them; He would guide them in every situation, and safely deliver his Son for his divine purpose.
Their faith grew as they stepped out trusting him, their peace intact; and they were grateful, after arriving safely in Bethlehem, for the humble shed offered them and the “new strength” Mary received as she “gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger.” (
Luke 2:7)
We, too, believed; and we were so grateful – and that was only the start.
Truly, “He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths as he has promised … I know that (his) goodness and love will be with me all my life.” (
Psalm 23:3,6a)
Prayer: Gracious Shepherd, you have a purpose for each one of us, whoever we are. Thank you that you equip us and provide for our needs, however humble, and guide us each step of the way. Amen.
Louise Gevers
Waar sal skape sonder 'n skaapwagter wees? Waar sal gelowiges wees sonder God en sy onfeilbare liefde vir almal wat Hom liefhet en vertrou? Die Herderpsalm vertel in geliefde en betekenisvolle woorde hoe God, as die Herder, diegene wat daagliks met Hom wandel, getrou versorg. In sy barmhartigheid lei Hy hulle, voorsien in elke situasie en stap saam met hulle deur die goed en sleg van die lewe.
Toe ons ons eerste kind verwag het, het ons die nuus ontvang dat my man in die nuwe jaar 'n gemeente in 'n ander provinsie moes gaan bedien – drie maande voordat ek geboorte moes gee en twee en 'n half uur se ry weg van ons tuisdorp. Wat moes ek doen sonder my dokter wat ek vertrou en my familie en vriende om in hierdie wonderlike gebeure in ons lewens te deel? Ons het vertrou dat God ook in hierdie situasie die beste weet.
Maria en Josef het sonder twyfel ook so gevoel toe keiser Augustus 'n bevel uitgevaardig het dat almal na hulle tuisdorp toe moes gaan vir 'n sensusopname. Maria, hoog swanger, is blootgestel aan 'n vyf tot 10 dae reis op die rug van 'n donkie al die pad na Betlehem want Josef was 'n afstammeling van koning Dawid. Wie anders as God kon hulle help?
Philip Yancey sê oor hulle: "Toe ek vandag die verhaal van Jesus se geboorte lees, het ek begin bewe by die blote gedagte dat die lot van die wêreld van die reaksie van twee plattelandse tieners afgehang het." [vry vertaal]
Hierdie twee "plattelandse tieners" was egter nie op hulle eie missie nie, hulle is deur God aangestel om die Verlosser in die wêreld te bring – die belangrikste roeping moontlik. Beide was 'n gewillige, gelowige deelnemer en hulle het die onvermydelike probleme wat tydens hulle reis, en later, op hulle gewag het, volkome aan God toevertrou. Hulle was geïnspireerd en toegewyd.
Die engel wat in 'n droom aan Josef verskyn het, het gesê: “Josef ... moenie bang wees om met Maria te trou nie, want wat in haar verwek is, kom van die Heilige Gees. Sy sal 'n Seun in die wêreld bring, en jy moet Hom Jesus noem, want dit is Hy wat sy volk van hulle sondes sal verlos.”
(Matteus 1:20b-21)
En God het hulle nie teleurgestel nie. Hy het hulle in elke situasie gelei en vir sy goddelike doel sy Seun veilig in die wêreld gebring.
Hulle het God vertrou, hulle geloof het gegroei, hulle het vrede gehad en hulle was dankbaar vir die nederige stal wat by hulle aankoms in Betlehem vir hulle aangebied is en vir die "nuwe krag" wat Maria ontvang het toe sy "haar Eerstelingseun in die wêreld gebring en Hom in doeke toegedraai en in 'n krip neergelê [het].
(Lukas 2:7)
Ek en my man het ook geglo en was so dankbaar – en dit was maar net die begin. Ons kon ook bely "Hy gee my nuwe krag. Hy lei my op die regte paaie tot die eer van sy Naam ... U goedheid en liefde sal my lewe lank by my bly ..."
(Psalm 23:3,6a)
Gebed: Genadige Herder, U het 'n doel met elkeen van ons, wie ons ook al mag wees. Dankie dat U ons toerus en in ons behoeftes voorsien, hoe gering dit ook al mag wees. Lei ons elke tree op die regte pad. Amen