He goes before us
You can’t fight time. Days roll into months and there is December 31 again! It’s now annoyingly long scrolling down to my birthday now when a website asks for it. I hope Biden has someone to do that for him because it’s quite a timewaster.
My New Year began delightfully with a smile from my granddaughter (conveniently awake for a night feed) but already here we are pacing our way through January. On which note, a belated Happy New Year to you all!
I wonder what you feel about 2024? Do you welcome a new slate or is it a scarily blank void? Does the inexorable deluge of days remind you of your mortality or do you just pour another cuppa and live for the moment?
Here is my encouragement for 2024 - God himself goes ahead.
Jesus says, “When the shepherd has brought out his own, he goes ahead of them”. John 10:4
Trevor often used to speak of the Lord going ahead of us, but I never noticed this verse in John’s gospel until this week. There is great comfort that the Lord went ahead of Trevor to open the doorway of glory and welcome him home.
The Good Shepherd goes before us. That is reassuring when it comes to the final frontier but it’s also reassuring for 2024. The Good Shepherd knows how to lead us to good pasture – to care for us.
On the days when I wake and my spirit lags, it’s good to know that the Lord goes ahead. He has gone ahead to prepare good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). That excites me. What might he have for you?
On the days when I’m anxious, it’s good to know that 2024 holds no surprises for God. Whatever we’re going to need, he knows about it already (Matthew 6:8), although he does like us asking. He has gone ahead to store up goodness for us (Psalm 31:9). Isn’t that a wonderful picture? God’s goodness is waiting for us around the corner.
My mum told me recently that she is constantly encouraged by all the ways that God has gone ahead of her in the many decades since she first trusted him.
As you look back, can you see his care?
The Good Shepherd goes before us.
