This Week’s Bold Step

Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations in the world with its origins being over 5000 years old. The relationship between sheep and their shepherd is very special and unique as it is one of complete dependence and trust. Since sheep have little strength to defend themselves against predators, they rely completely on their shepherd to protect them. They worry little about the direction they’re traveling in or their daily food intake because they trust the leadership of their shepherd. In the ancient Near East, the care of a shepherd to his flock was a common metaphor for the leadership of people, especially kingship such as the shepherd king of Israel, David.

Few Old Testament characters have had as much impact on the Christian faith with his humble beginnings. When we first encounter David, he’s out tending to his father’s flock of sheep in the fields of Bethlehem. Though he was the youngest of his brothers and not included in the special sacrifice arranged by the prophet Samuel, he was the one God had chosen to be anointed king and shepherd a different flock, His people Israel.

What a profound moment for David! He wasn’t in the bloodline of Israel’s first king, Saul. He wasn’t rich in class or status. He was the youngest son. He was a lowly shepherd. One would think that he would have become king right then and there but surprisingly, he returns to being a shepherd like nothing happened. But something did happen that day which I Samuel 16:13 records, “The Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward.” Though it would be another 15 years before David would reign as king, God would teach and prepare David during that season of waiting. It wasn’t a waste of time. Much of what David learned in that season, he applied as a leader of men.

Friend, be encouraged if you’re in a season of waiting. Like David, there is often a period of time between your calling and where you are today. I’ve learned that whatever you’re doing right at this moment is what God has called you to right now. Waiting isn’t meant to be a frustration but an invitation to be obedient and trust the good shepherd for His good timing. Ask yourself, are you allowing this time to be fruitful or frustrating?

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

The post Waiting on the Good Shepherd | Bold Stepper Weekly appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

This Week’s Bold Step

Clogged pipes in your home can really be a headache for a homeowner. Whether it’s a sink, toilet, or bathtub, all of these lines can gradually clog over time as debris accumulates, making it harder and harder for waste to move through. If not identified and addressed in the early stages, you could end up with sewage water backing up into your house. I speak from experience!

Unconfessed sin is a lot like that clogged pipe. Its tentacles can wrap around every part of our being and can often leave us feeling paralyzed if we’re not careful. The effects are often devastating from developing a wrong spirit towards God to feeling separated and isolated from community to losing the joy of our salvation. If left unchecked, unconfessed sin blocks our healing in other areas of our lives, leaving us hopeless.

In Psalm 51, we see David wrestling with the weight of his sin of adultery and murder. His anguish is palpable as he confesses his sins to God, holding nothing back. We see that he doesn’t blame anyone else but himself making no attempt to excuse his actions. David knew that his sin had separated him from God, so the only appropriate response was a humble and contrite appealing to Him to extend His mercy, love and forgiveness.

Like a pipe that’s been unclogged, there’s a hunger when your heart is repentant. The weight of sin is gone, replaced by joy and freedom like no other. You’re no longer a slave to sin! My friend, true repentance doesn’t merely alleviate guilt but cultivates a deep joy in your life. Might today be that day?

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

The post Clogged Pipes | Bold Stepper Weekly appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

This Week’s Bold Step

One of the most powerful passages in the Bible that exhibits the power of repentance is Psalms 51. Here we have a snapshot of a pivotal moment in the life of King David as he’s going through the process of not just being sorry but being truly repentant for his wrongdoing. There’s a big difference between the two- remorse and repentance- and people confuse them all the time. Do you know the difference?

Suppose you’re driving down the highway and get pulled over by the state police. Most of us are immediately remorseful because we got caught for breaking the speed limit but that’s not real repentance. True repentance is being sorry enough to stop what you’re doing and change your behavior which, in this case, would mean driving the speed limit whenever you’re behind the wheel for the foreseeable future.

Repentance and being sorry are not synonymous. They may look the same at first but after a time, the blame game reveals a person’s true heart. When we’ve wronged someone, repentance means we acknowledge that we’re the victimizer, not the victim. We then take steps to change the way we think about the wrong we did.

Conversely, people who are “sorry” ask for forgiveness for their own sake hoping to regain their position with that person or even their blemished reputation. The stakes are high when it comes to true repentance.

There are three key markers of repentance that we can glean from David’s confession:

1. Repentance requires a humble confession instead of defensive excuses.
2. Repentance involves personal responsibility instead of dodgy blame-shifting.
3. Repentance requires deep, honest cleaning instead of cheap relief.

Friend, anyone can feel sorry for what they’ve done but when we make a 180-degree U turn from our sinful ways and seek forgiveness from God, that’s the benchmark for a true Christ follower.

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

The post Remorse or Repentance? | Bold Stepper Weekly appeared first on 93.7 The Light.