What Is Following Us, and Do We Leave It Behind?

If we follow our Shepherd, we will leave behind the same blessings He did.

What chapter of the Bible tells us more about the qualities of a true shepherd than Psalm 23? The love of Christ is explained to us through verses 1-6, and the psalm displays the wonderful care that He gives to us, His sheep.

Verses 1-5 show us what a shepherd does for his flock. The last verse says that we will have mercy and goodness and dwell with God in His house forever, but it is also telling us something else very important!

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6).

This scripture is also telling us that goodness and mercy should be following us!

Is goodness and mercy following us? Do we leave it behind?

When we are talking to someone, whether on the phone or in person, what do we leave them with? Do we leave them with love, mercy, goodness, joy and happiness? Or do we leave behind sorrow, anger, bitterness and resentment? Does goodness and mercy follow us everywhere we go? Are people happy to see us come, or are they happy to see us go?

You know people that you love to be around. You get along great with them, they are upbeat and positive and they make you happy just being with them. You are thankful to know them.

You also know people that you don’t especially like to be around. They may be controlling, critical, judgmental and negative. It takes a lot out of you just to stay in a positive frame of mind and to be an example of love and mercy to them. It also takes patience, mercy and goodness not to get upset and angry with them. Aren’t we thankful for God’s mercy and goodness when we get into a wrong frame of mind!

Christ is our example

Christ is not only our shepherd, He is also our mentor. We are to become like Him in our everyday lives and follow His example. The Bible tells us:

• “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).
• “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
• “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

Follow Christ in all things

As Christ is our example in all things, we as His people and sheep are required to follow Him in all things. We also must radiate traits of a true shepherd in our lives for those with whom we come into contact.

What follows us, and do we leave it behind? Does goodness and mercy follow us everywhere we go, and is this what we leave for others when we leave their presence? If so, then we will dwell in the house of God forever!

Judy is the wife of a retired pastor. She and her husband of almost 50 years, Bill, reside in East Bernstadt, Kentucky. She is a mother of four, grandmother of 10 and a great-grandmother. She loves to read and write and is a freelance writer for Examiner.com and also writes for the TN COGWA website.