Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for though art with me.”
Do you know the history of crossing your fingers? Sometimes people will cross their fingers and put them behind their back as a sign that they don’t really mean what they say. Sometimes we cross our fingers as a sign of good luck. But in the first century of the church, when Christianity was illegal and Christians were persecuted, believers found a way to communicate their faith. Often when they greeted someone they would cross their fingers as a sign that they were a Christian, a person of the cross. The crossed fingers were a way to encourage one another. The crossed fingers were a sign of the cross of Christ and were a reminder that evil does not win. When Christians crossed their fingers it was as if they were saying we are going to live with courage and not fear. Everybody goes through some difficult times in life. All of us spend some time in the valleys. You may walk in the darkness and shadows of the valleys but never forget you are not alone. Walking with you is the One who suffered and died for our sin and rose from the dead. He is the one who has defeated evil and suffering and pain on the cross and in the empty tomb. There is a Good Shepherd who has been in the valley and He came through it and He promised He will lead you through the valley of the shadows safe to the other side. He has already made the trip. So remember when you are in the valley, if you just hold on to the hand of the Good Shepherd, He will lead you through. You do not have to live afraid. Walk with courage. The Lord is your shepherd and even though you walk through the valleys of the shadows of death, fear no evil for the Good Shepherd is with you.
Do you know the history of crossing your fingers? Sometimes people will cross their fingers and put them behind their back as a sign that they don’t really mean what they say. Sometimes we cross our fingers as a sign of good luck. But in the first century of the church, when Christianity was illegal and Christians were persecuted, believers found a way to communicate their faith. Often when they greeted someone they would cross their fingers as a sign that they were a Christian, a person of the cross. The crossed fingers were a way to encourage one another. The crossed fingers were a sign of the cross of Christ and were a reminder that evil does not win. When Christians crossed their fingers it was as if they were saying we are going to live with courage and not fear. Everybody goes through some difficult times in life. All of us spend some time in the valleys. You may walk in the darkness and shadows of the valleys but never forget you are not alone. Walking with you is the One who suffered and died for our sin and rose from the dead. He is the one who has defeated evil and suffering and pain on the cross and in the empty tomb. There is a Good Shepherd who has been in the valley and He came through it and He promised He will lead you through the valley of the shadows safe to the other side. He has already made the trip. So remember when you are in the valley, if you just hold on to the hand of the Good Shepherd, He will lead you through. You do not have to live afraid. Walk with courage. The Lord is your shepherd and even though you walk through the valleys of the shadows of death, fear no evil for the Good Shepherd is with you.
– Tim Thompson, Senior Pastor