In His House Forever

 By: Joanne Viola

“I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6b, NLT)

 

“Here is a sheep so utterly satisfied with its lot in life, so fully contented with the care it receives, so much “at home: with the shepherd that there is not a shred of desire for a change.”

(from A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller, page 136)

As we live our days in the care of our Shepherd, a relationship develops that brings both us (the sheep) and the Shepherd such joy neither would desire to leave the company of the other.

Fully content and at peace, we can look back over the years in His care and recognize how perfect His care, provision, and protection has been over our lives.

On the subject of a successful Christian walk, Phillip Keller sums it up in one sentence so beautifully:

“Live ever aware of God’s presence.”

As we live ever aware of God’s presence with us, we will come to the place much like Paul and confidently declare:

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NLT)

We've come to the end of Psalm 23. A wonderful summary of the psalm is offered by Warren Wiersbe:

A Vest-Pocket Edition of Psalm 23

Beneath me: green pastures;
Beside me: still waters;
With me: my Shepherd;
Before me: a table;
Around me: mine enemies;
After me: goodness and mercy;
Beyond me: the house of the Lord.

May we live every aware of God’s presence with us, and “remain in the house of the Lord forever”.

 

Photo by Sam Barber on Unsplash