Shotgun!

“He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag.” Deuteronomy 32:13 NIV

The verse I shared today is part of the Song of Moses, that highlights God’s abundant provision for His children. Symbolizing his ability to provide blessings even from unlikely places. Isn’t that just like our God, who knows no limits. The title I have chosen to share, “shotgun” does have a few meanings and humble beginnings.

Shotgun Wedding, this term originated from threat of a shotgun by the bride’s father to force a reluctant groom to get marry to uphold the family’s honor. Riding Shotgun meant sitting in the front passenger seat of a car, it is a slang turn that derived from the old west where an armed guard would sit next to the driver of a stagecoach with a shotgun for protection against bandits. Shotgun the song, was an original song, sung by Junior Walker, who recorded it with his band, Jr. Walker and the All Strs. The Saxophonist ended up singing the lead vocal on the track after the originally hired singer didn’t show up. The song was released in January 1965 on the Motown (Soul Records) label and became a big hit reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B charts. Finally, Shotgun was also a very popular dance.

For our purposes today, I am using riding shotgun in a Christian manner. As a kid riding with my aunt around town my cousins and I would call shotgun or just simply say, I am sitting in the front, I called it first. On my spiritual journey, I welcome riding shotgun as I leave all the driving to the Lord almighty. With him in the driver’s seat I can experience victory, security, blessings, contentment, trust and favor. So just put your seatbelt on, turn the music up, and let our God guide you with his all seeing eyes. Let him take the wheel of your life, He knows the way.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we could be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.