Session One. The Invitation

Transcription

1 Session One The Invitation

2 Session One - The Invitation Scripture Reading Open up your Bible and read Psalm 23. Now read it again, slowly. Write down whatever is coming to your mind as you read. The Holy Spirit speaks to each of us through Scripture. What is He putting on your heart as you read these words? Is it a confirmation? A question? A desire? Take time to write down these thoughts - this is meditation on Scripture.

3 Session Two Rest

4 Session Two - Rest First Be, Then Do You have three tasks due today. I often wake up to notifications like this on my phone. The project management app, Asana, is a lifesaver when it comes to helping me stay on top of all the things I need to accomplish in any given day or week. It helps keep my attention on all the tasks that need to be done which isn t always a good thing. I certainly don t need to be bombarded by a to-do list as soon as open my eyes in the morning. Most of us want to be productive, to live lives that matter, to know we are making a difference in the world. Living a called-out life of seeing God s will done here on earth as it is in heaven is an integral part of the Christian faith, but I often need to remind myself that doing things for Christ is not as important as being who I am in Christ. Psalm 23 begins with the refreshing reminder that much of God's calling on His people is an invitation to rest. Over and over throughout the Old Testament God's people are promised that they will one day enter his rest. On most days, by the time I get through work and running the kids to soccer practice and getting dinner on the table and trying not to lose my cool at home this promise from God sounds pretty amazing! Doing things for Christ is not as important as being who I am in Christ.

5 Copy It Down The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. God's Promises God s design for humanity has always included the promise of rest. Read through the following passages of Scripture and make note of what God tells his people about the need for - and the promise of - rest. Genesis 2:2-3 Exodus 20:8-10 Exodus 33:14

6 Numbers 14:8-9 Psalm 4:8 Matthew 11:28-30 Hebrews 4:9-11 A Firm Reminder God established the Israelites as His people and, throughout the Old Testament, set them as a signpost for the promises that would be fulfilled one day in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The exodus story, along with their journey towards a Promised Land of rest, foreshadowed the spiritual exodus that would one day be made available for all humanity: freedom from slavery to sin and death and eternal rest in the kingdom of heaven. But such a promise also carries with it a warning.

7 Read Numbers 13:1-14:38 What was God s promise regarding the land of Canaan (v.13:1)? What was the sin of the Israelites that aroused God s anger? What was the punishment for this sin (v.14:21-23)? The experience of the Israelites serves as a warning for all followers of Jesus Christ in future generations. The writer of the book of Hebrews makes this warning plain. Read Hebrews 3:7-4:13. Beginning in verse 12 of chapter 3, what exhortation is given to followers of Jesus? Be careful not to. Who was on the receiving end of God s anger? This section of Scripture draws heavily on Psalm 95. Though the Israelites saw as the person leading them into their rest (Hebrews 4:8), the writer of Psalm 95 (probably David) even in his time was looking forward to a new and better rest that would be delivered by. The right time to trust God for rest is (4:7)!

8 Reflection The deep exhaustion in our soul often comes from trying too hard to be faithful. The writer of Hebrews reminds us firmly to place our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior and Messiah, and not to look to ourselves for deliverance. Hebrews 4:14-16 puts this all in view for us: So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testing we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Read that passage again. Pause. Let it sink in. Believe it. In what ways do you find yourself trying too hard? What are those areas of weakness that you work hard to cover up? What aspects of your spiritual development exhaust you and leave you feeling helpless? Let the passage from Hebrews 4 be a reminder. Trying harder to do better or to be more righteous leads only to frustration and emptiness. Instead, we need to hear the words of Jesus and believe them. We can approach God confidently to find the grace needed each and every moment to rest in Him.

9 Trying harder to do better or to be more righteous leads only to emptiness. The invitation in Psalm 23:1-3 is calling to you. Let God lead you to streams of water. Let Him restore your soul. He has done it all for you. The work of salvation is accomplished. Your identity as His son or daughter is secure. Have faith: rest in mercy and grace today.

10 Session Three The Good Shepherd

11 Session Three - The Good Shepherd Prone to Wander When I was in fifth grade, I deliberately wandered off into the woods, in the middle of a New York winter, as nighttime approached. For starters, let s just acknowledge that I was a cotton-headed ninnymuggins of a child! But I also realize that I am just as prone to get myself lost in the woods today as I was thirty years ago. The old hymn by Robert Robinson rings true for me: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love. If left on their own, sheep will wander off incessantly, often to their own demise. Sheep need a shepherd to guide them along safe and good paths, lest they wander too close to a cliff or a predator and meet an untimely end. Needless to say, when the master comes for his flock and finds all the sheep accounted for, he does not praise the sheep for not getting lost; he praises the shepherd for finding, leading, and protecting them. King David was a man who needed restoration once in awhile. The same man who slew giants for God s glory also committed adultery and conspired to have an innocent man killed. Like a sheep, like all of us, David strayed from righteous paths. As much as any of us, he knew that peace and rest at the deepest levels of the soul only come by the grace of God. The Good Shepherd patiently and persistently picked him up, set his feet on solid ground, and welcomed him back to the fold. The Good Shepherd does the same for you and for me.

12 Copy It Down He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name s sake. Scripture is full of stories of ordinary people who struggled to remain faithful to God. Read the account of one of Jesus closest followers and friends, Peter. Read John 14:36-38; 18:15:27 What was Peter s failure? To this point, Peter s relationship with Jesus was intimate and dynamic. Teacher/Student Leader/Follower Provider/Recipient and now Innocent Prisoner/Cowardly Defector Despite the closeness Peter had with Jesus, he still turned away when it counted most. In order to understand the weight and impact of our own sin and rebellion against God, it can be helpful to remember who Jesus is. Use the columns on the next page to reflect on your relationship with Jesus. In the left hand column, write down as many adjectives you can think of that describe who Jesus is to you. A few examples are included to help get you started.

13 Jesus is my: Shepherd Forgiver My heart chases: Affirmation from others Now, in the column on the right, make a list of the kinds of temptations and desires that tend to pull you aware from that relationship with Jesus. (The two columns do not have to correlate to one another). You can be as vague or as specific as you want (i.e. pride" or "I tend to worry about getting the recognition I deserve at work"); the important thing is to allow for your heart and mind to truly to reflect, recognize, and repent of those things that draw us away from that intimate relationship with Him. If your table looks anything like mine, you re probably feeling a pretty heavy weight in your chest right now. The heart of Jesus - the left column - screams Savior! Friend! Advocate! My heart - the right column - screams Sinner! Coward! Fool! The excellent news is that the weight is not mine to bear, nor is it yours. Let s look back to Peter and see what Jesus does with his epic failure. Read Mark 16:7 The angel in the tomb tells the women to go tell of the resurrection to the disciples and.

14 Why would Peter, especially, need singling out to be told the risen Jesus would meet him? Read John 21:15-19 After appearing to the disciples a few times following his resurrection, we discover this poignant scene that is recorded only in the Gospel of John. Jesus asks Peter three times, do you love me? Why do you suppose Peter was grieved when Jesus asked this question a third time (v. 17)? What does this interaction tell us about the grace of God? It's Not About Us Read the following passages: 1 Samuel 12:20,22 Psalm 25:11 Psalm 106:7-8 Isaiah 43:25 Romans 15:7

15 Throughout Scripture, we find that when God s people are rescued from slavery to sin and death, gets the glory. Our restoration, our obedience along right paths, is for His name s sake. God gets the glory when each and every one of his sheep comes home! In many ways, Psalm 25 reads as extended version of the one verse in Psalm 23:3. Read through Psalm 25 in its entirety. Copy down or highlight the passages that resonate. Write out your own prayer to God. Thank Him for his faithfulness to save and restore you. Trust Him for perfect and complete forgiveness. Honor and worship Him for his power and lovingkindness.

16 Session Four Walking Through Shadows

17 Session Four - Walking Through Shadows Jumping at Shadows Copy it down: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me My family recently adopted a Labrador/St. Bernard mix puppy. To answer the question before you ask it: yes, I know it is going to be huge. As of this writing, we have had the puppy for fewer than two months and it has already more than doubled in size. But I digress

18 I had been searching for a dog to rescue for a few months when I stumbled upon Luke at a local adoption event. He was adorable, but I was also drawn to his calm demeanor. While other puppies were jumping and yelping, Luke lay calmly in his cage, taking everything in with his giant eyes. When we arrived home it didn t take long to realize that, in addition to his laid-back personality, Luke was also terrified of everything. A giant ball of white, cowering fluff, Luke was, literally, a big softie. One evening shortly after bringing Luke home, I took him for an evening walk. The sun was gone and the streets were illuminated by tall, bright lamps that lined the roads in our subdivision. As we walked beneath one of the lamp posts, Luke suddenly jumped into the grass and pulled away from me, terrified of something. He looked around nervously for a moment before inching back on the pavement. No sooner had he resumed his spot by my side, he jumped again. I tried walking quickly, but the unseen threat was still making him antsy. I soon realized that Luke was seeing his shadow, stretched tall and long beside him because of the proximity and power of the streetlamp. Fortunately, as Luke has grown this fear of shadows no longer haunts him. Luke has learned that the shadows don t matter nearly as much as that which casts the shadow. Under the right circumstances, even a small child can cast a tall shadow. Better to understand the real subject matter before allowing circumstantial shadows to have too much influence on our thoughts. There are times when you and I can feel like we re walking through a valley of death. Facing an illness, losing a loved one, a broken relationship, a crippling depression, financial ruin the list could go on. There are seasons of life that just feel overwhelming, like the pain or the anxiety is too much to handle. King David was no stranger to such seasons: hunted for years by his best friend s father; living alone in caves for fear of his life; the death of his infant son; the weight of his own sin. Yet even in these dark moments of anguish, David had hope. He knew that, though it felt like death was closing in, this was not the end. He had confidence that God was with him always, even in the shadows. We see this faith in God s presence and protection displayed throughout Scripture. Read the following passages, making note of the individuals, the circumstances they faced, and how God s presence was known:

19 Passage Person Problem Presence 1 Kings 19:1-8 Daniel 3:8-27 Acts 27:13-44 Reflect on your own life. Call to mind a time when you encountered a difficult situation, but can look back in hindsight and see God s presence at work even in that valley. At David s most challenging moments, death was certainly a possibility. Throughout his life he had many enemies bent on his destruction. Even then, David could calmly and confidently say these threats was merely the shadow of death. David was looking forward in faith to the eternal rest in God s promised future. Centuries later, Jesus Christ would pass through death into life, making a way once and for all for humanity to enter that rest. Because of Jesus victory, death itself holds no power over the believer. Death may seem a towering monster at times, but with Jesus Christ as our lens we see death for what it truly is: nothing more than a shadow. Finding Rest in the Darkness Like my dog discovering that not all shadows need to be feared, David also knew that the thing casting the shadow is far more important than the shadow itself. There are times, in fact, when shadows are comforting, like the shade of a tree on a hot summer day. God s faithfulness and power casts a protective shadow over this world

20 that becomes a refuge for weary souls in need of rest. As you read the following passages; underline or highlight the common phrase: Psalm 57:1 Psalm 63:7 Psalm 91:4 Your troubles may cast a shadow of fear or doubt, but God s love is a mountain, his power a tall fortress. Find His grace even in your deepest troubles, for His presence is rest for a weary and worried soul.

21 Session Five Eternity

22 Session Five - Eternity Copy it down: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

23 In the Presence of My Enemies For kicks, my college roommate and I identified an archenemy for each other and looked for opportunities to laugh about it. Our imaginary foes were usually encountered on an intramural soccer field or at the cereal bar in the campus dining hall. Superheroes we were not! In reality, most of us do not know what it's like to actually have someone with a name and a face who is bent on our destruction. At worst, we may deal with the school bully, a frustrating or conniving coworker, the controlling boss, or a sibling rivalry. We do, however, face enemies and threats in terms of forces that are hard to understand and even harder to combat (i.e. racism, terrorism). As I write this, I feel very much like we as a nation are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, with divisiveness and mistrust tainting every attempt at healthy discourse. What are we to do when we feel such an enemy pressing in? Psalm 23 does not deny the presence of evil or of forces seeking to destroy. Rather, it reminds us that even in the presence of our enemies, God prepares a meal for us. Note David s language: this is not a rugged, battleside campfire thrown up in haste before we meet our doom: it is a banquet table set before us, prepared thoughtfully with us in mind, unconcerned with the enemy lurking at the door. God draws us to a place of peace and blessing. As the forces of darkness surround us and when evil gnashes its teeth in the night, our place is first and foremost at the table communing with God. Only then, when we have learned to dwell in His peace and His sovereignty, can we learn to engage in the battle, knowing only then that it truly belongs to the Lord. The Exodus in many ways is a foretelling of God s deliverance of all humanity for all time; the promised land of Canaan was, temporarily, for the Israelites what the kingdom of heaven will be for all believers for eternity.

24 Read Exodus 23:20-33 and Revelation 21:1-8 How many similarities can you see between the two promises? In the year 2000, the band Fuel released a song called Bad Day with the following lyrics: She left a note and said, I'm sorry, I had a bad day again. She spilled her coffee, broke her shoelace. She smeared the lipstick on her face. Slammed the door and said, I'm sorry, I had a bad day again. Ever had a day like that? The kind of day where you just want to throw your hands up in the air and give it all up? Most of us have experienced a spilled-the-coffee-broke-ashoelace kind of day. Some of us probably feel like that happens more often than not. Worse, most of us have had really, really bad days. Days that include words like cancer, violence, anger, betrayal, abandonment, death. How can we come to a point where we, like David, can say, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life"? All the days. As in every. single. one. Even the really really bad ones. Because when we have faith in the Good Shepherd, the One who restores our soul, we have complete trust and confidence that He is ultimately leading us to a place of rest. When all the days of this life are over, the good ones and bad ones, we will step into eternity. And if we have followed faithfully in those right paths, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. With that long view of eternity, we can view the days of our life with a different perspective. We can walk through the valley, we can eat in the

25 presence of our enemies, because we know that God will be faithful to bring us into His rest. I often grown weary of my own sinfulness and brokenness. I have such a great capacity for pride, for a lack of self-control, for losing my temper, for lust and greed. There are many moments when I find my soul crying out to God to just rid me of these internal enemies of the heart. I long for that rest where such things will be no more. Read Psalm 139: Take some time to write down your innermost thoughts. Allow God to bring your fears and your transgressions to mind. What are those things deep inside that you desperately want God to rid you of? In what areas do you need healing? What temptations or patterns feel like your innermost enemies? Psalm 23 begins and ends with rest, and it reminds us through and through that God is in control, and that His presence is our peace. End this week with a prayer. Ask God for forgiveness where needed. Ask Him for rest. Pray in humility, being honest with your own weakness or weariness; but pray also in confidence, trusting fully that God is with you now, spreading the shadow of His wings over you; and trust fully that He is preparing a place of rest for you. Write down your prayer. Let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart speak and allow the pen to follow.