One morning recently when out for a walk with one of the little boys I help sit for, I noticed the nearly 2-year-old, James, who walked along beside me, kept scurrying up to stay in my shadow. I don't mean that metaphorically, but literally. The temperature was in the 90s, so I am sure he was seeking a cool spot as we walked along. It soon became a game to keep him going. I would take a few steps and he'd giggle as he'd speed up to step on and in my shadow.Today when I was reading Psalm 91 - one of my favorites - verse 1 made me catch my breath: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Then in reading Psalm 121:5 "The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." I thought of sweet James desperately trying to stay in my shadow and giggling as he quickened his steps to feel protected from the heat of the morning sun.
Oh that we could use that example as a true guide for our spiritual life. That we would keep pace with our Most High God to stay in His shadow. That we would excitedly and happily run to stay along with Him and rest in His protection from all that would seek to harm us. How do we ... metaphorically now ... keep pace with the Creator of the world? We do this by reading His Word, praying regularly, being obedient to His commands and loving His children. Psalm 91 gives us the information we need: "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent,. For he will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:9-11) and at the tail end of the Psalm in verses 14-16: "'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My Salvation.'"
When James or his brother walk along with me they will toddle off to chase a butterfly, head into a neighbor's yard to examine their basketball hoops or porch decor, peer over the edge of a drain to look down a gully and run into the middle of the road to pick up some tiny acorn they see. I find that I am constantly saying, "Come back over here. Don't step too close to the edge. Don't touch that. Get out of the middle of the road." It's my desire to protect these little ones from whatever danger they might stumble into or from doing any harm in their natural curiosity.
It's the same with our Father. His desire is to protect and guide us. So we need to listen and obey. And we know from 1 John 5:3 that "His commands are not burdensome." The beginning of that verse says, "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands." Why? Verse 4 of that chapter tells us: "to overcome the world." Prov. 1:33 says, "Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
I told my 7th and 8th grade Sunday School kids last Sunday that "faith is obedience without reservation." It's trusting in our God and His commands that we can rest in His Shadow. That He has us completely.
When I asked a friend once what song I could use to create a customized ring tone on my cellphone for her, she thought for a moment and suggested The Beatles' song, "I'll Follow The Sun." The lyrics say, "Tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun." But I'd like to change those lyrics. 1 John 5:5 says, "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Who is the "My Salvation" from Psalm 91:16? Jesus!
So here's my plan ... "Tomorrow may rain, but I'll follow the Son" ... and stay the shadow of the Almighty. I feel safer already.
