Matched Luggage

Read Psalm 23 1-6

Context: Written by David -- timing unknown.

Text
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
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 goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. (NIV)

Footnotes:
Psalm 23:4 Or through the darkest valley

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Did you ever memorize this Psalm? It's full of things that kids can relate to -- sheep, food, comfort and love. But as an adult, I don't know that I've really paid attention to what it is all about. It's always been a nice Psalm, but I never really took it to heart.

Steve asked us yesterday to sit down and really look at the emotional burdens, the baggage, that we carry around. I liked his image of multiple suitcases. I have my carry-on bag of perfectionism that never leaves me. I always see ways that I should have done things differently, better. Then there is that computer bag full of concerns that I'm not keeping up to speed with everything that is going on in the world...I am always behind. Then there is all that stuff that will get checked at the counter...the giant suitcase of wanting to be in control of my life. Another holds all my guilt and shame...well, not quite. It has the things I've done that I wish I hadn't. Another holds the things I didn't do and I wish I had...they are a matched set that bruise and batter me each time I pick them up.

There are more...I ship them ahead of me and they catch up at the most inopportune times. Greed, selfishness, insecurity, bitterness, martyrdom, pride.

But God wants me to lay them down. He's prepared a mansion for me that is fully furnished with the right stuff...I can leave my junk behind. In fact it isn't allowed in Heaven. So I might as well just set it all down now. This Psalm says that God will take care of me day to day...he'll take my luggage and manage it so I don't have to.

I hope no one picks it up by mistake from the lost luggage pile!