Destination Approaching: Led in Paths of Righteousness
🛤️ Destination Approaching
Each Saturday, we slow down and refocus our hearts as we approach the pinnacle
of our week—gathering with the Church to worship our LORD. These reflections
prepare us to lift our eyes from the noise of the journey and set our hearts on
the final destination: Christ Himself.
Today, I wanted to reflect on Psalm 23 as we approach
the Lord’s Day.
So often, I’ve thought of this psalm in terms of comfort,
deliverance, and care in times of need, distress, or even near death. And
that’s absolutely true—it’s part of what makes this psalm so beautiful.
Yet today, my heart was drawn to verse 3:
“He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
— Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
We do not, naturally, in our flesh, want to be led down
paths of righteousness.
We want to be led down paths of healing, comfort, rescue, consolation—but
righteousness?
Not in our own flesh.
Yet the more we walk with the Lord, His desires begin to
become our desires.
And I hope you can say—even if imperfectly, and certainly not out of
legalism—that you genuinely desire to sin less, and desire to be led
in paths of righteousness.
If this is true (to any degree), praise the Lord!
Yet all of us—all of His sheep—will still wander,
sin, and rebel.
Let us never forget that it is the Good Shepherd who walked the full
road of righteousness for us.
And upon completing that walk, He handed us His perfect record as we
began our own journey with Him.
So that when we reach the end—no matter how messy our journey was—our merit is
not our own,
but His.
Yet as a Good Shepherd, when He sees His sheep wandering,
He not only leads by example,
but also disciplines in love.
A good shepherd guides, prods, pushes,
and even drags His sheep out of danger.
Often, we sheep feel the pokes, the kicks, and the thorns of our wandering—but
we must pause and recognize the Good Hand behind those painful
adjustments, working them for our good.
One thing I’m constantly reminded of is this:
The closer I cling to the Shepherd—
by saturating myself in His Word daily,
by taking time to pray,
by listening to the teaching and preaching of His Word,
by celebrating in community with His people—
the less dramatic the "adjustments" often feel.
(Not that there won’t be trials, but my heart stays softer,
my steps less stubborn.)
I want to be careful here:
I am not saying that being a good, obedient Christian leads to a
comfortable life.
But why would we think there would be no difference
between walking closely with Him
and ignoring Him?
Or giving Him five minutes of rushed time a day?
This isn’t about our circumstances changing—
It’s about knowing the Lord,
trusting the Lord,
and resting in His love and care.
And what better reminder to stay close to the Shepherd
than as we prepare to worship Him together?
Church—
We will wander.
We will struggle.
We will sin.
But we have an Advocate when we do.
Oh sweet Jesus—thank You for saving us from Your wrath and from our
own depravity.
📖 Scriptures for
Reflection:
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so
that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
— 1 John 2:1 (ESV)
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this
body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
— Romans 7:24–25 (NKJV)
Psalm 23 (ESV)
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
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