My sheep know My voice. How you say, can I hear the Whisper of the Holy Spirit? How can it guide me along paths of righteousness for His Namesake? Well, that is an easy question to answer. Let scripture guide us. What is the Truth, and how does it fit with where we are now on our purpose-driven journey?
Rich and Poor Alike
Psalm 49
1: For the music director: a psalm of the sons of Korah.
2: Hear this, all you peoples.
Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
3: both low and high,
rich and poor together.
4: My mouth speaks wisdom,
My heart’s meditation is understanding.
5: I will turn my ear to a proverb.
I will utter my riddle on the harp:
6: Why should I fear in evil days?
when the iniquity of my deceivers surrounds me?
7: Or those trusting in their wealth,
boasting about their great riches?
8: No man can redeem his brother,
or give to God a ransom for him.
9: For the redemption of a soul is costly—
so, one should stop trying forever.
10: Will he live forever—
and never see the Pit?
11: Surely he must see, even wise men die.
The fool and the brutish will alike perish,
leaving their wealth to others.[a]
12: Their inward thought is:
Their houses are eternal,
their dwellings for generation after generation.
They name their lands after themselves.
13: But the pompous man will not endure—
he is like the beasts that perish.
14: Such is the way of the self-confident,
and their followers who approve their sayings. Selah
15: Like sheep they are destined for Sheol.
Death will be their shepherd
and the upright will rule over them in the morning.
Their image will decay in Sheol—
far from its lofty place.
16: But God redeems my soul from the power of Sheol—
for He receives me. Selah
17: Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when his house’s splendor increases.
18: For when he dies he takes nothing away.
His splendor will not follow him down.
19: Though during his life he congratulates himself,
and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
20: He will still join his fathers’ company,
who will never see the light.
21: A pompous man, without understanding—
he is like the beasts that perish.
Ask yourself this question? Am I seeking fame, notoriety, the things of this world? Or am I seeking first the Kingdom of God? Recognizing when we put God first, all else will be given to us.
The things of this world will perish; instead, listen to the melody of the harpist playing a tune of repentance, surrender, and complete obedience to the will of God—obedient, blind trust, walking by faith and not by sight.
A joyful sound of praise as we surrender and obey God's purpose for our lives. When you answer the call to be "Fishers of Men," you must lay down everything you own and walk with Jesus. Are you ready? Are you willing to be led? Are you willing to serve in any capacity possible?
"I am gathering My sheep. Will you answer the call?" That is what Lord Jesus is saying to you today. Will you go where He is calling you to go? Lay it all at the foot of the Cross: the shame, guilt, fear, regret, self-loathing, depression, fear, and self-promotion. Say no to your will and yes to His purpose for your life.
Do not limit yourself to the box others have placed you in; instead, break into your purpose! Know your worth and value, and trust that God knows the way. "My sheep know my voice, and they follow Me." Again, look to scripture for Truth:
27: The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.
28: And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
29: My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.
30: I and the Father are One.
Trust
Obey
Surrender
I did and have never regretted the journey for one second. I was dead before Christ set me free and on a purposeful path of blind obedience and servitude at the perfect will of Abba Father. I believe in you! He believes in you!
Conquer, the Victory is Ours!
Blessings,
Tammy Toney-Butler
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