3.30.2026 - Scott Elgersma

Monday, March 30, 2026

Psalm 23

We read today from Psalm 23. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What can we learn today from the light of God’s word to us?

Happy Easter Week! May the Spirit bless you as you anticipate the celebration, the remembrances and the reflections ahead. In these devotions, we are focusing on Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

To do that, I’d like to join in some simple word associations throughout the week. My hope is to bring us into some places of gratitude and reflection by using some common objects that we run into every day.

Today’s word association is grass.

Here in California, we are seeing the new growth of spring. In fact, given the unseasonably high temperatures, it feels more like summer. Everything is growing. Even as I sit here at my desk, I can hear some men from our congregation working outside on the grounds of the church. They always trim some bushes, knock down some dead or dying tree limbs, clean up the trimmings, and mow the grass.

The scent of fresh cut grass always says something to us doesn’t it. It might remind us of Saturdays as children when every yard in the neighborhood got cut. It may remind us of life on farms when grass was cut to be baled up into feed. I hope today, we can make another “memory connection”. 

As we read Psalm 23, grass is provision and comfort. The lambs of the shepherd were led to places described as “green pastures”. In these places, the soul can be refreshed and the goodness and love of the shepherd can be experienced. The land of Israel where the text was written would have different looking pastures than we know, but the point is the same. The shepherd takes his lambs to places where they have what they need and the comfort of a shepherd who watches over them.

That’s the story of Easter. In the week ahead the one who is our shepherd becomes the lamb that gives us exactly what we need. Christ provides a way to life when sin looms over humanity with its power to destroy. Christ takes the sin that enslaves us into himself so that we may know freedom. The lamb of God enters a reality where he is absent from the Father’s presence so that we will never know what its like to be forsaken by God.

The lamb gives us what we need. The gift of redemption is given, and we can know life in all its fulness.

When you see grass this week, see the color as the life you are offered in Jesus. When you catch the scent of fresh cut grass, be reminded that Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for you. In Christ, the green pastures are ours. May that gift move us to worship the risen Christ in the week ahead.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

To contact the author, please email: elgersma@therivercrc.com