Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.
The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it."
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."
Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going."
You know who you are but where are we going?
Twice He leadeth me
v.2 - He leadeth me by still waters – Refreshment, Restoration
v .3 - He leadeth me in paths of righteousness – Journey
- Know where you are going
- Waters – Renew us
- Paths – Matures us
- How does that work ?
- It’s based on choices
- Life is full of Choices – Choices cannot be avoided
Je 10:23
23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
- “He leadeth me”
- Note the link between He & Me – Leadeth Guides
- The Shepherd determines the Paths
Is 30:21
21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
- Both through green pastures & deep valleys
Heb 10:19-20
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Jn 10:3-4
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Jn 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- Over and over again in Scripture the Lord goes before us
- He promised His presence in the Conquest of Canaan
- At Sinai
Ex 23:20
20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Ex 23:27
27 I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
Ex 32:34
34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
- 12 men spied out the land and promptly forgot
- 40 years latter before going into the land
Dt 9:3
3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
Dt 31:3
3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
- Israel on the verge of going into captivity
Is 45:2
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
Is 52:12
12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
Ex 13:20-22
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
LIKE THE CLOUDY PILLAR,
1. Christ Is a Guide
Jn 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2. Christ Is a Light
Jn 8:12
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
3. Christ Is a Shade
To pilgrims traveling heavenward, he is "the shadow of a great rock in a weary land"
Is 32:1-2
1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
4. Christ Is a Defense
Ps 119:114
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
5. Christ Is an Avenger
Ro 12:19
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath (let God take care of getting even): for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- David said, “He leadeth Me”
- Does He Lead You
- His name is at stake if he does not
