..and this high-profile actor was asked to openly recite. Yes recite.
"Okay," so he stood up. He wanted to be very gracious to his audience therefore he said, “I’ll recite anything you would like me to recite.”
And yet no one suggested anything particular.
But one old preacher happened to be there. He had been sitting in the back row. (Man, how did he get in there? Perhaps he just crashed that party cuz typically Bible preachers and teachers don’t really get invited to upscale drawing room functions or any gatherings on such a high society level, but there he was.. in the middle of it, in there just the same).
The preacher then stood up and said, “I’d like to hear you recite the Twenty-Third Psalm.”
Sure, there's nothing like getting God's pure words into the ears of people we care about!Well, the actor was taken a back.. a few steps.. but he stayed composed and professional.. though a little bit shocked by that request.
He had put himself out there, wide-open before this group and so he had to do what this man had asked him to do.
The good thing was that he actually happened to be educated and he remembered this well known Psalm so he responded, “All right, I’ll do just that.”
Then he started out and repeated the Twenty-Third Psalm with his complete eloquence, so articulate and polished, SO MASTERFULLY did he quoted it. Such a public spokesmen! His diction was beautiful. It seemed flawless in the delivery. And when he was done there was spontaneous applause throughout the entire room.
When was they last time you heard an actor quote something like that?
Then the actor figuring he’d kind of rib him back, that old clergy guy, so he retorted, “Now, preacherman Sir, I’d like to hear you recite it.”
And the old gentleman hadn’t anticipated or bargained for that, but because of his deep love for Christ the preacher stood up and he too repeated the Twenty-Third Psalm.
His flawed well-worn voice cracked some, it broke, wasn’t very beautiful. The interpretation wasn’t really all that good. And when he got done there was no applause.. but there wasn’t one dry eye in the entire room.
And the actor sensing his own emotion wellin'-up stood to his feet and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears and he reached your heart.” And he said, “The difference is this. I know verbatim that old Psalm, but he in an intimate way knows the Shepherd.”
Got a few minutes? I dare you if I may to know it. To prayerfully memorize this beautiful Psalm as well, but more so while there's still time.. to know this Shepherd well, and to make Him well-known.
The Lord is my Shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
I'm about to jump on a plane to SoCal today (San Clemente). Been preparing here in Dallas to teach through James 4 next Sunday at Prestonwood on Park.
What a great epistle -- I am thrilled with James' "altar call" so to speak in this chapter. This soul-winner's appeal is really at the heart of his letter. It's the very core of his book as he points us to Christ! Yes, James also knew and knows the Shepherd -- you can too!
Why? Cuz that's God's heartbeat for all humans that we turn and trust Him. Who is on his heart today? God the Son longs for a close righteous relationship with you! So what are you waiting for? Come as you are.
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and I know without any doubt those who are My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me—even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My very own life sacrificing it for the benefit of the sheep. I have other sheep beside these that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become one flock with one Shepherd." John 10:14-16 amp
