Oh Lord, may the words from my mouth be from your inspiration to my heart. Amen
Well here we are, the final Wednesday of this year’s Lenten journey. How is everybody doing on this year’s task of learning to recite the 23rd Psalms from memory? I think we can all get the last verse in tonight so, using the King James Version, let us say the 23rd Psalms together.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Six Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Good, we all made it to our goal! Now, I want you all to relax, close your eyes, and listen as I say the 23rd Psalms. As I am saying it, I want you to think about the places you find and see in your mind. Now, I realize that we all have full tummies, but no napping!
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Six Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
As we envision the places and the sights we see, can we imagine what David was trying to tell us? As we go from a safe place to a calming place to the feeling of relief to the Glory road all for God to the deep darkness of death and the presence of God by our side guiding and teaching us to his table amongst our foes to blessing us with some much we can’t contain it to where we need to talk about his goodness and mercy that we live with and spending eternity with God.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. Here after we have just been anointed by God with so many blessing from Heaven we can’t hold them, what else can we expect to receive from God?
The goodness of our Heavenly Father, the Father or all that there is and shall be. For God has given us a world in which all that we may ever need is here. Isn’t it amazing how the Earth is just “right” for us to live! The goodness we receive from the good ole terra firma, the food and water and air, all the stuff we need to survive. The goodness of family and friends and ok the animals as well, the things that help us get through each day.
That the goodness we have in our lives is still from that over flowing cup we have, trying to hold all those blessings from Heaven. Blessings we get everyday. Blessings to remind us of who we are, children of God. Those children who have the love of their Heavenly Father who is exceedingly generous with his gifts. A Heavenly Father that is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Who shows just how merciful he can be to us.
Is not the mercy we receive from God is that what our Lenten journey is all about. To see that the mercy that follows us all the days of our lives comes from one place, and that place is Calvary!
Calvary, the place where Jesus Christ took upon his self the sins of the world. The mercy we see all the days of our lives is from this single act from God the Son. The mercy of our sins being forgiven. Forgiven each and every time we confess to those sins, the mercy from Heaven wipes the slate clean.
Yes, surely goodness and mercy shall follow us, the goodness of Jesus Christ holding out his hands to show us how much mercy he is willing to give to us. The goodness and mercy that sets us free to be able to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
So, as we make our way to the end of our Lenten journey, following Christ to the garden of Gethsemane and to Good Friday and the Cross, let us give thanks to God from being so generous to us, by remember the reason why we have the goodness and mercy that will allow us to dwell in the house of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the reason for all the goodness and mercy!
Praise be to God. Amen