BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD--THE GREAT NEED OF THE WORLD 6) THE SHEPHERDING FATHER HAS CONTENTED SHEEP.

Is your family lying down contentedly in a home of spiritually rich green pastures? Psalm 23:2 says, "He makes me to lie down in green pastures." Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Chief Shepherd, makes sure that all His sheep that seek to follow Him are contented with the greenest, most succulent, and healthiest of all spiritual food. Not only spiritual, but natural food, too.

The lying down aspect of this Scripture speaks of contentment. How can a sheep that is hungry and malnourished lie down contentedly? It is impossible. In the natural, sheep only lie down when their appetites are satisfied. The Chief Shepherd desires that His under shepherds provide their families with a healthy and safe home life where both spiritual and natural food are nutritiously green.

Fathers who are good shepherds will make sure their families are contented and not stressed out with fears and anxieties.

The country of New Zealand where I was born and raised, is ideally suited for raising sheep. Because of its temperate climate it can grow healthy green grass all the year round. New Zealand has some of the greenest pastures of the world. It is a joy to behold the vast green hills covered with the rich green carpets. The hills and valleys are covered with the healthiest sheep in the world--contented and satisfied. It also has no natural predators in the whole country! But, even so, there are some bad shepherds who do not manage their flocks well.

We must pray that our home is a place of both spiritual and natural contentment where our lambs can lie down contented.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell