Knowing Psalm 23
I was thinking about a story the other that my pastor loves to tell from time to time.
It goes like this:
There was a really famous radio personality that came into town one day. He went around visiting the community and out of no where a small man tells the radio person to say Psalm 23 because he had the best voice he’d ever heard and he thought it would be great to hear it from the famous person.
The Radio Man said ok and he began to recite Psalm 23. Everyone was so taken in and was mesmerized by the voice that was coming out of that man’s mouth.
When he finished everyone applauded and cheered.
The small man was happy but he wasn’t done.
He told his Pastor to stand up and recite it as well.
The Pastor declined but the small man insisted that he get up and recite the famous Psalm. The Radio Man walked up to the Pastor and greeted him and insisted himself for him to stand and say the Psalm.
The Pastor stood and started reciting Psalm 23. “The Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want”. “Even though I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil.” he went on…
There was really no special tone he used. His voice was well…normal. Nothing famous.
When he finished, everyone in the room was in tears. There was not a dry eye in the house.
The Radio Man looked to the small man confused and asked, “Why did everyone applaud me but cried with emotion with him?”…
The small man reply, “Because Sr. You know Psalms 23, But he knows the Shepherd.”
I could easily tap in and plug-in my analogy right here…but I want you guys to give me feedback on this story. Maybe YOU can give us the analogous truth this time.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Super Jesus!
Superheros movies are huge in this day in age. The Avengers Movie just crushed the all time opening weekend box office record and I think it really shows us something about ourselves. We freakin love Superheros!
I was playing with my son yesterday with his action figures and as I was flying Thor through the air I pressed his button that talks and thunder and lighting sounded off! I karate chopped the bad guy (according to my 4-year-old son it was a power ranger) and loved every minute of it.
Of course, when I heard that thunder and lighting the image that flashed in my head was Jesus lifting up his hands and demanding the raging sea to calm down.
Then I started thinking of other superheros and how we’ve been duped. Jesus has all these powers! Allow me to demonstrate that Jesus is really the Ultimate Superhero:
Superman - can fly and is made of steel. Well, Jesus flew when he ascended into heaven. AND, in one instance, he walked right through a crowd that was ready to stone him. Uh! Take that!
Batman - is well-known for his cool gadgets and gizmos but most of all he is fearless. Jesus coined the phrase, Do NOT Fear, for what can man do to me! As for gadgets and gizmos?…he didn’t need um…he used stuff like water and dirt to rescue a guy from blindness.
Iron Man - had the ultimate body armor. Jesus had Love. That was his defense on anything. He clothed himself in Love and even sacrificed himself for Us. He and Love are One.
Spiderman - climbing up walls is one thing, but his spider sense and web slingin is another. Jesus had a better spider sense, just ask the woman at the well. Oh and his words could stick to you like any web slinger.
Hulk - had rage, and Remember when Jesus went on a rampage and turned over the tables of a church market?…need I say more?…
The Green Lantern - Glowing green is cool and all, But try Transfiguring…Jesus did.
Wolverine - had the ability to heal rapidly. Jesus healed thousands instantly, I’m pretty sure he could heal himself faster than wolverine.
Cyclops - eyes did the fighting. In the book of Revelations, Jesus is revealed as having eyes of fire. Boom!!!
Flash - hah to run really fast to stay above water. Uh..come on…Jesus could WALK on water. Who’s Better?
Captain America - Again, in the book of Revelation we see Jesus as the captain of the Lords Army riding on his white Horse ready to conquer the World!!!
The Thing - Jesus said that HE is the ROCK that we should build our lives on cause he will not be moved.
All of these Superheros have one thing in common. They were the Saviors in their world. unfortunately, those worlds don’t exist in real life just in a movie or comic book.
But there is a Superhero in our World too. And he’s better than ALL of those guys combined.
It’s Jesus.
The Son of God…
King of Kings and Lord of Lords…
The Alpha and the Omega…
The Beginning and the End…
Let The Savior of our World come and Rescue You!
I’m Driving Blind!!!
It’s been a really stressful couple of weeks for me at work. We have transitioned into a new system and it has me in a place that I really hate. The unknown.
Before the transition, I knew my Job very well. I was very good at it. I could probably do it with my eyes closed. But with the new system, it was a really rocky start.
I mentioned to a co-worker that it felt like I was driving blind.
This was the story I told a group of really great kids last Friday night at a bible study I teach to young teens. I told them that sometimes that is they way some christians walk in their faith with Christ.
It’s like we think we are doing something right, but we are really driving blind and wishing we don’t crash into anything!
That’s not the way Jesus wants us to live our lives.
He wants us to have a good vision of HIM!
We wants us to be able to walk this faith with our eyes closed.
He wants us to know him very intimately.
He wants us to know what words he would say before he says it.
It’s been about a week since I’ve been using the new system, and it’s getting better. I’m understanding it more and more just by spending as much time with it. Just clicking around the different features and getting to know my way through it.
It takes a lot of “spending time” with Christ to get to know him on that level as well. In prayer, in His word, In his people, In his church, and even In his lost sheep.
Oh but he makes it so much easier when you let HIM hold your hand and helps us make our way through his grace and love.
Jesus, You are all I want.
You are all I need.
You are all that I want to want and need to need.
I love you Lord…
I’ll talk to you a little later…
