LEADS

Psalm 23:1-3 - The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He LEADS me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life; He LEADS me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him - not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

I know most of us have heard the 23rd Psalm until it has probably lost a lot of its impact and meaning. The Lord showed me a glimpse of what He means by "leading" while I was running my dog this morning. We go out every morning at 8:00 a.m. so there is always much traffic to contend with. Most of my running trails have paved walkways, but throughout my neighborhood there is not so much as a curb. It's blacktop pavement then grass. Obviously, it is my responsibility to keep my eyes open for oncoming cars, and to keep us both out of harm's way. Many times my beloved pet becomes distracted by other dogs being walked, a taunting squirrel, or simply an invisible scent she has picked up out of thin air. Again, it is up to me to keep us on the right path and away from danger.

In the 23rd Psalm God uses the analogy of a Shepherd and his flock for an important reason: authority. From the onset we need to understand who the Shepherd is, who the master is, and who has control. The Shepherd leads the sheep not into dangerous fields, not on frivolous, wasteful adventures, but to green pastures and restful waters with Goodness and Mercy as constant companions. Matthew 18:12 explains what happens when the sheep decide to wander off away from the Shepherd's care.

I know most of us don't like the notion of being at the end of God's leash. Well, let me ask you this. How does it feel being at the end of Satan's? Years ago I found myself at the end of his noose and it was a living nightmare.

This is how I see it in my mind's eye. God and I are walking hand in hand through the Mall. I look and act like I'm about five years old. I look right and left and in every direction at all the beautifully lit up shops. I pull this way and that begging to go into the alluring stores, but my Father simply says, "No my dear we must keep walking forward. I'm taking you to a much nicer place. Trust me." In my disappointment and anger I pull all the more, the beginnings of a minor tantrum on the horizon. Finally, when my curiosity and independence can take it no longer, I pull from his grasp and dart into the nearest store. I'm totally overwhelmed by the shiny trinkets and pretties all around. After what seems like five minutes of indulgence I look around for my Father but I can't see him. Desperation and panic sets in and I frantically run out of the store looking this way and that, calling out his name, but only see the faces of strangers.

Lord, I pray that we would never break free from your loving grasp. I pray that we would trust you and follow you to green pastures and restful waters and always cherish that invisible leash that yokes us to your mercy and loving-kindness.

RACE

II Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good (worthy, honorable and noble) fight. I have finished the RACE, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

Did you know that the Christian "walk" is really a foot race? I remember in elementary school being one of the last to be picked on the relay race team because my legs were short and I wasn't a fast runner. Someone could have been chasing me but my little pudgy legs could only go so fast.

A few years ago I started a daily jogging regimen where I run several miles around my neighborhood for exercise with praise music plugged into my ears. It has become one of my favorite times of the day because it's just God and I in the great outdoors with my heart beat racing. I don't run too fast or too slow. I just keep a nice rhythmic pace.

Every human being on the face of this earth is involved in a race as well. As a believer in Christ we are on a specific course, and most of the time there is someone chasing us. It's extremely tempting to slow our pace to a crawl and eventually give up and sit down. It's also equally as tempting to step off the course all together and venture into a McDonald's or a Star Bucks until the whole exhausting event is over.

When the apostle Paul wrote these words to Timothy he was sitting in a Roman jail awaiting execution. Even though Paul’s posture was not upright, his spirit was. He may not have been running physically but he was sprinting towards glory spiritually. Paul is writing these words to Timothy as he is about to pass the torch of ministry to his "son" in the faith. God Almighty speaks these words to each one of His sons and daughters as He encourages us to keep going in the spirit, never give up, and fix our eyes on the finish line where He awaits with a victory crown!

COME

John 4:29 – COME, see a Man Who has told me everything that I ever did! Can this be [is this not] the Christ? [Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One?]


This statement wraps up a very fascinating encounter in scripture – Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well at high noon. Apparently it was the woman’s job to draw the daily water supply from a well, enough to meet the needs of the home. I know it’s hard for us to imagine such strenuous work just for a cup of water or for a bowl full to wash a dish, but this was life back then. I’m sure it took multiple trips to and from the well, all the while carrying several pounds of water in heavy vases. The reason this woman chose to do this job at the hottest part of the day was because she knew no one would be there. For she was the town harlot, the object of all gossip, and shunned.

After her encounter with Jesus, however, something dramatic happened. Christ asked her with all sincerity where her husband was then proceeded to tell her that He knew she didn’t have a husband, that it fact she had five former husbands and was now living with a man. They continue talking about living water and true worship, and then Jesus drops the bomb that He in fact is the long awaited Messiah.

Now this is the part that trips me up. The woman believes Him and receives Him but then she does an interesting thing. She goes back into town, the same town that has shunned her and shamed her, and tells them to “Come see a Man who has told me everything that I ever did!” The miracle is that verse 30 says, “So the people left the town and set out to go to Him.”

Why would these town people believe a woman they despise and look down on? How can the town floozy turn evangelist in one afternoon? Because she had a true, spirit filled encounter with the Living Water and everything from that moment on was different about her. She was so emboldened by this transformation that the very people she was trying to avoid became the target of her testimony. Oh, that we would be so touched by the living God that we would tell others to Come. We needn’t worry what they will say or do, how they will receive us, whether they will be converted or not. Our hearts desire should just be “Come.” Come and see what He did for me!

VOID

Isaiah 55:10-11 – For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me VOID [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Have you ever had to void out a check? Maybe the person you wrote it to lost it, or the payment was going to end up being made through your credit card account. Whatever the reason, this once valuable check worth whatever amount you placed on it (and hopefully can be covered in your account) is now worthless, empty, useless. This check once had a purpose but now it has none.

I love this scripture immensely because for one thing it is a promise from God, one you can take to the bank. And secondly because God uses a beautiful illustration derived from nature. He is comparing His word (which includes the Bible and every single promise it contains) to the rain and snow. They come down from heaven, a one way ticket, water the seed which in turn begins to sprout producing food and nourishment. The rain and snow do not begin to fall to the earth, change their mind and then exit in reverse back up into heaven. And neither does God’s word. We can’t visually see all that takes place in the cycle of the rain, seeds, plants, produce, etc., but we know it works when we walk into the grocery store and fill up our carts.

When you plant God’s word into your heart it joins the cycle of life within you. You may never see the process in action, but you will experience its fruit. This airtight promise from God says that His word will not return void, useless, and good for nothing. It will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.

I’ll share a personal example from my own life. Being an “accident” baby born to a 17 year old and feeling that title every day of my young life, when I found Jeremiah 1:5, I clung to it like a canteen of water in the Sahara desert. It reads, “Before you were formed in the womb I knew you and set you apart.” The purpose of that word was to encourage, love, praise, and bless. Not only did that word not return void, but it implanted itself into my spirit until a mighty oak with abundant fruit was produced. God’s word never returns void. It always fulfills its purpose!

SHEPHERDS

Luke 2:8-11 – And in that vicinity there were SHEPHERDS living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!

I just love these guys! These were the minimum wage, average Joe workers of Jesus’ day. I used to admire their lifestyle when I would read of their job description. Living outside, taking care of sheep (yes, I’m an animal lover), no one to answer to, the adventure of the wide open prairie. Maybe my imagination has been a little too Hollywood-ized. Upon further research I found that the shepherds were the lowest on the totem pole, the least of the community. They often had to fight off lions, wolves, and other wild animals to protect their flock. Scorching sun during the day and frigid temperatures at night.

Yet despite their lowly station in life, God chose to send an angel with a First Class birth announcement to a group of shepherds. The shepherds, in fact, beat the wise men to the scene. If you haven’t noticed by now, God loves to turn the tables; the first becoming the last and the last becoming first sort of turning. The lowest and least on the economic ladder were first to see the Messiah. And let’s not forget that it was a 14 year old peasant girl who was chosen to bring the Messiah into this world. And a scandalous, second class citizen woman named Mary Magdalene was the first to speak to Jesus after he was raised from the dead.

Whatever your station in life, your gender, economic situation or race, Christ Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, wants an audience with YOU! This band of shepherds were in the middle of their shift on just another average workday when an angel appeared with a message. This angel didn’t demand that they come see Jesus or zap them there against their will. In verse 15 the shepherds “said to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” God sent a message and his people responded.

This is my message to you today. You may never see a Heavenly host of angels with flashing swords, but God still sends messages your way every day. If you own a Bible then you are already in possession of the very voice of God. Every morning while I’m packing my kids’ lunches for school I look out my kitchen window to see the hand of God painting a sunrise in the sky just for me. Each day He beckons us to come see a new thing, something He wants made known, Jesus Christ His Son.

SHIELD

Ephesians 6:16 – Lift up over all the [covering] SHIELD of faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

Ever notice in those Brave Heart/Gladiator movies the monstrous shields the warriors use? Sure, there are many other pieces of armor like the helmet, breastplate, knee guards and belts, but the shield is of utter importance. The shield is the outer covering, the first point of contact for whatever ammo is being fired.

Verses 11-17 of Ephesians are dedicated to the full armor of God, our spiritual protection against the enemy. So much has been taught about the importance of the armor, the significance of each piece, and our responsibility to use each piece daily and effectively. But the shield stands out to me mostly because the shield represents our Faith; thus, it is called the Shield of Faith. The Amplified version uses the term for what is being hurled at us “flaming missiles” while other versions say “fiery darts.” Some days I feel like Satan is shooting darts, small annoyances that get under my skin, and other days they honestly do feel like WWII missiles meant to wipe me out completely.

God says our faith is our shield that will quench, stop, extinguish these missiles. If our shield is not positioned firmly then the first attack usually strikes the head. Our helmets may remain intact but we suffer dizzying confusion. Example: “Lord, I know you have instructed us to tithe consistently, but we’re just so behind right now.” My shield of faith faltered so my mind argues and debates the fact that we can’t possibly give 10%.

The next blow hits the breastplate and our hearts are wounded. “Lord, I thought you cared about us. You know our situation.” The heartbreak causes a stumble and now our shoes of peace are knocked off. “I don’t have time to join that bible study. I’m sure someone else will bring a meal to that family.”

Our armor may still be intact but our body is bruised and our walk has been crippled. We are now searching for the Medic and are in desperate need of healing. Our faith can be a shield unto us, but it is up to us to employee it daily. Without it the consequences are immeasurable. Faith is a shield.

THORNS

Judges 2:2-3 – And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; but you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? So now I say, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as THORNS in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

I don't know about you but this verse sends a wave of sorrow and remorse over me, not to mention a healthy dose of reverential fear. This is one of those black and white parenting types of scriptures where God tells His children to do something, no questions asked.

As a loving Father, God tells us what to keep away from, for our own good by the way, with a quick reminder of the consequences of disobedience. Again, we have a choice in the matter – obey and receive God's blessings and hand of protection or disobey and receive His judgment and ensuing consequences.

The thorn in this verse can refer to any number of things. Let me give you an example from my own life. God has told me personally to keep alcohol out of my body – period. For many years I blatantly disobeyed Him reasoning and debating (arguing) the point, and thus experienced many a thorn, to say the least, in my life. That substance became a god and subsequently an idol that I would later go on to worship. However, because we serve a loving Father who abounds in grace and mercy, the moment I repented of my behavior and turned from it He restored me over and beyond what my previous state had been.

For each of us God has spoken specific instructions in our lives. Some are general, blanket commands such as the Ten Commandments while others are more personal and have much to do with our individual personalities and purposes in life. Whatever the case, if we refuse to remove the foreign gods, idols, addictions, and hindrances from our lives we can be sure these very things we cling to and worship will become a living nightmare, an aching thorn, and a snare to trap us. Ask the Great Physician today to remove what's ailing you.