For His Name's Sake

Sometimes there are startling patches of brilliance in what is a rather subdued Autumn here in upstate NY. Yesterday, my parents and I drove out to lunch in a lovely, historic, little town about forty minutes away from their home. It was a beautiful sunny day, and rain is forecast for the rest of the week so we decided it was a good day for a longish drive to view the fall foliage. It is a beautiful drive even without spectacular fall color, through forested and pastured hillsides, on narrow winding country roads. I don't know if the leaves are past peak, or if it was just a less astonishing show of autumn in general. However, on occasion, we would round a bend in the road, and there would be a burst of glory - usually yellow. Whatever the yellow trees were, they were neon flashes in the melting browns, rusts, and olives of dying leaves.

Having trouble sleeping (as usual), I was reciting the 23rd psalm in my head. It is one of only a few scripture of any length that I have successfully memorized. But last night, I was getting stuck after the second line. So I flipped open my Bible. Oh yes, "He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake."

And then like a neon burst of yellow trees out of the murky background, that line hit me.
Why does He guide me along the wonderful paths? Not for MY sake!? For HIS name's sake!!

I don't know why I had never really pondered that. I always have thought of the 23rd Psalm, my favorite, as a comfort to ME. But here was a line unequivocally stating that it was not about ME. It was about GOD. You would think that after 35 years of being a believer, I would not be surprised by this, but I was. I had never noticed that our being guided on the right paths was not for OUR benefit, but for GOD's.

And I felt a wave of relief! If walking the right path was for HIS name's sake, then I could trust that He would do everything in His power to insure my success sticking to the right road. All I have to do is be obedient to His guidance, acknowledge that He is the Shepherd I need to follow, and stay on the path He sets before me. I closed my eyes to visions of golden leaves twirling in the sunlight.

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The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3 NIV)




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