Rest in the Shadow

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.

Wandering

I love to people watch, and a recent visit to Disney World gave me ample time for it. One morning after walking to Disney Springs from our hotel, as I waited for the World of Disney store to open, I sat on a brick wall and watched the many people go by. I giggled as I watched a young couple with their toddler son. He had been let out of the stroller and was exploring the world around him, his daddy just a few paces behind. I noticed this little fellow repeatedly going in completely the opposite direction that his daddy was encouraging him to go. He would look over his shoulder to see if his dad was watching and purposely ignore his pleas taking off on yet another adventure, his dad frantically chasing him yet again. I was giggling and giggling. At one point the little guy ran full on down to a fence between him and Lake Buena Vista. He again looked behind to see if dad was following. I think dad was as his wits end at this point, so he bent down, grabbed the little fellow by the back of his overalls and swung him into his arms, carrying him back to mom who waited patiently by the stroller. Dad just continued to carry him at that point.

I couldn't help think of our Heavenly Father through all of that. We, ridiculous and adventurous, running completely opposite of our Father's guidance on the correct path, and Him graciously and patiently shepherding us back on the right track. And I can think of a few times when I'm pretty sure He grabbed me by the back of my overalls, picked me up and carried me a bit so I would be protected and refocused on where I was supposed to be.

I'm sure every once and awhile God throws up His hands as we venture far of the path to leave us to our own devices and learn from the wrong choices. I wondered, if that ever present daddy at Disney would have just let his son go off and not watched, protected, redirected and carried his boy, what would have happened to him? Lost? Most definitely. Injured? Quite possibly. Taken by another? In this crazy world, uh huh. Likewise, the same could happen to those who wander away from God's Word, law and direction. Lost? Most definitely. Injured? Quite possibly. Taken by another? In this crazy world, uh huh.

I'm impressed by the Disney dad's persistence in caring for his son. Those days are far from over and I pray he is as resilient as the years go on. And I more so pray for the son, that he listens to his father, obeys and stays on the right track.

We have those same opportunities and choices. God in His great love, has given His creation free will. Praying that we have the integrity, fortitude, awe, courage, strength and perseverance to stick with Him. The journey will be far less risky, far more abundant and certainly more beneficial to our growth. I mean, seriously, we aren't toddlers anymore. Or children or teens for that matter. We know better. Praying we behave as such.

Whoa! Or Woe.

You've heard the statement before: "The church is full of hypocrites." And you've probably heard the clever congregant's retort: "It sure is, and there is room for more. Come join us."

Yes, the church is full of hypocrites. Repenting hypocrites, but hypocrites nonetheless. But it doesn't mean we should act like one. I think that is my biggest frustration with Christians within and outside of the church ... their inability to act like Christians.

Recently I heard the story about a young married couple who found out before their nuptials that they were expecting a baby. When this couple, post wedding, went to worship at their church, they were told they were no longer welcome there. Say what?! Why? Because they fornicated? Since when is that sin any greater than the one committed by the folks within the church walls? Yes, they sinned, but they got married, repented and were coming to worship the One who died for them. And church members tell them to leave? Good heavens.

Then I heard the story of a teenage girl who recently moved to a new area with her family. The family tried out a new church near their new home and sent their daughter to the youth group. The teen was welcomed to youth and had a great time. However, when she went to school the next day, she was snubbed by the very youth who welcomed her the day before. As a result, the family chose not to attend there, informing the youth pastor of the reason. The youth were hypocrites. Proclaiming the love and acceptance of Christ, but not living it.

Jesus Christ, while loving us in our various states of sin, has choice words to say to hypocrites. He called them vipers, snakes and blind guides. He says repeatedly, "Woe to you," and at one point even says, "How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matt. 23:33). Christ tells his followers about these hypocrites in Matthew 23:3 "Therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach." How sad and pathetic is that? Christ knew our lives would be a sad example of what he wanted us to be. Gandhi spoke of it when he said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

What did Christ call us to do? His greatest commands were to love: first God, then our neighbor as ourself. He also asked us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey. All well and good, but that means we need to obey as well.

I cannot tell you how many people have treated me poorly in churches. Christians. They have lied to me, betrayed me, excluded me and made fun of me. Within the church walls. And sadly, I must include myself in this, because I know I have done the same at various times. We are a church of hypocrites, this we know, but good heavens, we should be working diligently, continuously, enthusiastically to make sure we don't. What example are we setting?

Are you excluding a soul at church? Are you treating someone poorly? Are you cussing? Are you lying? Are you stealing? Are you committing adultery? Are you not forgiving? Are you gossiping? Are you slandering? Are you making fun of someone? Well, for heaven's sake, for Christ's sake, for our sake and that of the soul you are hindering in their faith journey - stop it.

I expect I'll see non-Christians behaving in a non-loving manner, breaking moral laws and ignoring Scripture, but to see Christians doing it is so disheartening. Who would want to worship with those people? People who call themselves Christian and behave as if they are not should be the rarity, not the norm, and I'm seeing more and more examples of the latter than the former. Christians, hear your Savior! "For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves" (Matt. 23:15); "For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matt. 23:27-28). 

Do you remember the old Gatorade commercial with Michael Jordan where the choir sang, "Like Mike, if I could be like Mike?" As the children of God we need to be singing, "Like Christ, if I could be like Christ." Let our lives reflect those of the One True King. Stop yourself before you treat another of God's children - created in His image - as lesser than you. Be obedient to the teachings of our Lord. When we become selective and wishy washy in that obedience, our example is like that which Christ referred to when He said, "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt. 18:6) Christ demands much of us, and expects us to do it.

Do you know what hypocrite means? It means a liar, a contradiction, a pretender. I proclaim I am a Christian ... a little Christ. It's about time those who proclaim that label act like it.