Years ago, a well-known actor returned to his home in England. The actor was given a grand reception in his childhood parish. While replying to the complimentary speeches in the parish auditorium, he asked if there was anything they especially wanted to hear from him. After a minute’s pause, his old pastor asked him if he could recite the Good Shepherd Psalm, Psalm 23, which he had taught the actor in Sunday school.
A strange look came over the actor’s face. He paused for a moment, and then said, “I will, on one condition—that after I have recited it, you, my pastor and teacher will do the same.” The old, retired pastor replied, “I am not an actor, but, if you wish it, I shall do so.”
Impressively the actor began the Psalm. His voice and intonation were perfect. He held his audience spellbound, and, as he finished, a great burst of applause broke from the audience. As it died away, the old pastor rose from his wheelchair and began to recite the same Psalm. His voice was feeble and shivering and his tone was not faultless. But, when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The actor rose and his voice quivered as he said, ‘”Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears, but my old pastor has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.
Knowing the Shepherd is so needed today.
For decades, I have studied the Bible. When I was a child, a woman picked me up and took me to church each week. At that little church, I learned so much scripture. I was motivated to learn passages of scripture because my Sunday school teacher offered prizes. I learned a lot of Bible.
After graduating from high school, I attended Southeastern University. At that time, it was known as Southeastern Bible College. We had daily chapel services and a Friday night chapel service. Attendance was mandatory. I heard a lot of sermons based on the Bible. When it came to choosing courses, many studies of books of the Bible were required classes. I learned a lot of Bible.
After SEU, where I met my husband Gaylon, we left to begin the life of pastoral ministry. As time passed, I began to teach children’s church and adult Sunday school. That required teaching books of the Bible, so I studied for hours. I learned a lot of Bible.
Eventually, I began to travel teaching in churches and conferences. I continued studying a great deal. I learned a lot of Bible.
I cannot pinpoint the exact date, but I found myself a bit unfulfilled in ministry and my Christian walk. I had heard over and over that I should get into God’s Word, and I would know God.
I knew so much of the Bible, but something was missing. There came a point in time that I was broken before God, telling Him something was wrong. I was a worship leader, a Bible teacher, and a woman of God, but these were not totally fulfilling.
God clearly began to break through and show me that I was much like the actor in the above story. I knew the Psalm, but I did not intimately know the Shepherd. It is the Shepherd who brings the Word to life. It is the Shepherd who fulfills the longing deep within my soul. It is sitting alone with the Shepherd that is life changing.
Scripture is wonderful, and I thank God for the Bible. But it is intimacy with the Shepherd that we must have. Intimacy is more than just knowing about God; it is about experiencing Him, communicating with Him, and cultivating a heart connection that grows over time.
I am not discounting the study of scripture, but that in itself will not produce intimacy with the Shepherd. Of course, to intimately know God, we must know crucial things about God. These things are learned through study of scripture.
Never in the history of the Church has there been so much theological material available to every person. Theology is simply the study of God. We have many Bible translations, books written by other Christians, a plethora of articles, Christian magazines, and endless sermons. All of these are wonderful, and things for which we should be grateful.
Yes, there is an abundance of material about God at our fingertips. We do not lack material about God. It is my opinion that what we lack are Enochs who walk with God. Genesis 5:24 tells us that Enoch walked faithfully with God. Hebrews 11:5 shows us that Enoch had a walk with God that was life changing. In a time when there was little teaching material for Enoch to access every day, Enoch accessed God, and it translated to a life that pleased God.
I am reminded of the words of a chorus that I find myself singing from time to time.
In your presence, in your presence, there is peace.
In your presence, in your presence, there is joy.
I will linger, I will stay, in your presence day by day.
Till your likeness may be seen in me.
That is what happened to Enoch. Being a child of God was not just one of Enoch’s priorities. It was his top priority through which all other priorities were filtered. Enoch walked the earth for many years, but God summed up Enoch’s life very simply. Enoch walked with God.
God invites us to intimacy. God invites us to walk with Him. Will you answer the invitation? Rise up and be an Enoch!
“Oh God, let Enochs arise within the Church. Let believers arise who do not know only the Psalm, but who know the Shepherd.” Amen.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalms 16:11 NKJV