“He goes on ahead of them and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice”. John10:4 This is one of the most beautiful, encouraging truths in the Bible! It’s the picture of an Eastern shepherd leading His flock.

Many years ago, I used to visit in the home of another believer. He had a painting of a shepherd and a flock of sheep. I knew nothing about sheep or shepherding. One day my friend asked me, “Terry, do you know what is wrong with this painting?”‘ Well, I didn’t have any idea so he explained that the Biblical shepherd, or Eastern shepherd, always went AHEAD of the sheep. In the painting the shepherd was BEHIND the sheep driving them, which was more often the case in the West. WOW! I never understood that! He never goes behind, He leads!

Psalm 23, so well known says, “He LEADS me beside still waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His names sake” 23:3

Friends are you facing some tough challenges or decisions right now!? Some new step of faith? Did you think you were alone? NEVER! ” He goes ahead of you”. Whatever you are facing, He will not only go with you, but He will go ahead of you!

I love the story of “The Road of Life” of which I will just quote a few excerpts.

” When I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike,and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t know just when it was He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since! When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable…the shortest distance between two points. We went where I wanted to go.

But when He took the lead, He knew the delightful long cuts, up mountains and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. When I got scared He would just say, “pedal!”

I was worried and anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer and I learned to trust. He took me to people who needed acceptance, love, joy and His healing touch. When I would get scared, He would just lean back and touch my hand.

I did not trust Him at first but He knows bike secrets, how to take sharp corners, clear high rocks, shorten scary passages. I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, enjoy the view and the cool breeze with my constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I can’t do any more He just smiles and says, “pedal!”

I love that! We are so afraid to give Him COMPLETE control, but if He is going to go before and LEAD us we need to trust Him completely! If we do, at the very end of our journey it will be true that ” Goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of The Lord forever”.

So…PEDAL!!!!

Terry