Heaven on Earth (Part 5)

Psalm 23 (TNIV)

1 The LORD is my shepherd,

I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down

     in green pastures,

   he leads me beside

     quiet waters,

    3 he refreshes my soul.

       He guides me along the right paths

       for his name's sake.

    4 Even though I walk

       through the darkest valley,

       I will fear no evil,

       for you are with me;

       your rod and your staff,

       they comfort me.

    5 You prepare a table before me

       in the presence of my enemies.

       You anoint my head with oil;

       my cup overflows.

    6 Surely your goodness and love

   will follow me

       all the days of my life,

       and I will dwell in the house

       of the LORD forever.

Classic Passages of Pursuit

Being pursued.  How do you feel about that?  When I was very young, I used to have a reoccurring dream about being pursued.  I was on my tricycle, and there was a huge dark figure in a very large vehicle who was pursuing me.  I was pedaling as fast as I could, but it seemed like no matter how hard I pedaled, the figure was gaining on me.  It was only a matter of time until . . . well . . .  I never found out.   I always woke up before I was caught.  But, suffice it to say, the experience of being pursued was not one I cherished.

Curiously, we don't mind it quite so much when we are the one pursuing.  Even if we are frustrated by not being able to catch up with what we are going after, because we are somewhat in control of the chase, it seems to sit better with us.  The Declaration of Independence even defines one of those "rights" that all human beings have (along with life and liberty) as the pursuit of happiness.  This pursuit can, of course, be long and exhausting.  And the goal is often far more elusive than we ever dreamed.  Yet, I suspect, that most of us still feel more at ease with being the pursuer than the pursued.  Being pursued can leave us feeling uneasy, suspicious, and looking anxiously over our shoulder. 

But being pursued is not always like that.  Even though the kind of dream I described taps into a kind of anxiety that seems to be hard wired into us as a result of sin in our world (which often shows up as resistance, suspicion, or the desire to hide when we sense someone is in pursuit of us), being pursued can be the best thing that ever happen to us!  What if the greatest thing in the world was not escaping, but getting caught?  What if being pursued was more fun and playful and rich than a source of anxiety?

This is what David sings about in the final verse of the 23rd Psalm that we are considering this week, and what Pastor Jon will be exploring with us as well.

If you'd like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.

• What would make it easier or more inviting to stop running and let  themselves be "caught"?

• What would it take for you to turn and  allow yourself to be "caught"?

• How do you feel about or respond to the realization that God in His goodness and love continues to pursue you "all the days of your life"?

• If you are running, would you like to stop now?  Will you?  You can, you know.