The Shadow of His Wings

Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 17:1-8 ESV). As I said yesterday, I love old movies. In the movie "Return to Snowy River," the central figure is a young man named Jim, a master at capturing and training wild horses. His herd had been stolen and he had taken off after them on his best mount. But the horse thieves shot and killed Jim's horse. It looked hopeless, but then, standing before Jim was the magnificent stallion who covered the whole herd. Because of his beauty, strength and tremendous speed, many had desired to capture him. The great horse never allowed anyone near him. Jim's horse was the stallion's favorite mare. The stallion gazed at the dead mare. He appeared stunned and oblivious to everything surrounding him as Jim approached him slowly. Amazingly, Jim was allowed to touch and then to stroke the beautiful horse's head. Then, gently, he put the bridle and the saddle on him. Almost miraculously, the stallion was allowing the encroachment of this gentle man as he had no other. The moment of truth came when Jim put his foot into the stirrup and threw his leg over the back of the great horse. With all his strength the horse reared, throwing the intruder into the dust and galloping off, taking the saddle and gear with him. Discouraged and dejected, Jim bedded down for the night. At dawn, he was awakened by the sounds of cracking twigs. With one eye opened he lay very still. The powerful stallion cautiously came near and stood directly beside him. His grand head bowed directly over Jim's. With both eyes now open and with a smile of joy, Jim saw the reins fall to the ground before his face in an unmistakable gesture of surrender. It was the loving touch and the gentleness of the talented trainer that brought the horse back to bow his head and drop the reigns before him. Jim took hold of the surrendered reins. This was the one horse most fit for the task of recapturing the herd. The mission of the young master in the movie was accomplished. The Master of our souls has a great purpose in mind for us too. Perhaps there was a time in the past when you felt His touch. You were tempted then, by the gentleness of His touch and the love that you felt, to surrender to Him. But you resisted and kept on going your own way. Today Jesus, the Master, comes to you again, asking you to come and lay the reigns of your life at His feet. Come into the protection of the shadow of His wings! The life He offers has a greater purpose than you can imagine, and that purpose is not just temporal, but it is eternal. It is a purpose of love. Though it is not the easy or popular way, it is a purpose of great joy and victory, both for you and for others in need. He is waiting for you to come today for He not only wants to heal you and give you a new life, but He wants to train you and prepare you, and then use you in a specific role of serving Him to help a hurting and needy world.