Merciful Might

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Pandemic, Peace, Power, Protection, Security, Strength

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, ESV).

            Here the sons of Korah declare the marvelous security of those who trust in the Lord.  The image is of a stronghold or place of safety where God’s people may shelter against even the fiercest catastrophe.  Thus the following verses describe the supreme safety of the Lord’s presence against world-shaking cataclysm (vv.2-3), and the psalm’s refrain reiterates this theme of God as fortress (vv.7, 11).

            Rely on God’s merciful might to protect you.  God is the shelter of His people; in every danger, He can save; in every struggle, He can lift you up.  Place your confidence in Him.  Though the road may be perilous, He will bring you safely home.

Giver of Light

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Grace, Hope, Light, Mercy, Pandemic, Peace, Revelation

“Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” (Psalm 43:3, ESV).

            This short psalm carries on the themes of Psalm 42, observing the distress and isolation of the psalmist (vv.1-2), and ending with the same summons to hope (v.5; cf. Ps. 42:5, 11).  In the middle is this prayer for God’s mercy to draw him near, which is followed with the hope of renewed joyful worship (v.4).  We need the merciful leading of God, who can deliver us from all distress.

            May the Lord draw you ever nearer to Himself.  In all our sins, struggles, and fears, He is our hope and our Redeemer.  May He bless you with peace and the joy of His presence as you go through this day.

Redeeming Power

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Power, Redemption, Salvation

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5, ESV).

            The psalmist follows his statement of longing for God (vv.1-2) with words of mourning and anguish, reflecting on a joyful fellowship with God that seems broken (vv.3-4; cf. vv.9-10).  Then he comes to this question and corresponding charge (v.5), which may be taken as the key theme in the psalm, for it recurs exactly at the end, in verse 11.  He interrogates his soul, searching for the reason behind its anguished grief; and he points himself to the hope of all the righteous: the redeeming power of God.

            Hope in God, when you are downcast; call out to Him in the depths of your sorrow, and even in despair.  God is able to save.  God is able to redeem, restore, and heal.  With God, the future is always bright with possibilities, for no one and no situation is beyond the power of His redeeming love.

Unrestrained

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God, Grace, Hope, Mercy, Pandemic, Strength

“As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11, ESV).

            After his initial reflections on God’s deliverance (vv.1-5), David proceeds to describe his response to the Lord’s merciful call (vv.6-10), including verses that have a further and final fulfillment as Messianic prophecy (vv.6-7).  David has forthrightly borne witness to God’s kindness and salvation (v.10); now he reflects once more on the graciousness of divine favor (v.11).

            God’s persistent mercy is our abiding hope.  His love continues to reach out to us, His fatherly heart to care for us, through all our trails and failings.  We can look to God for stability and strength in life’s struggles, and for mercy in our time of need.

The Magnificat

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Advent, Christianity, Christmas, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Hope, Jesus Christ, Mary, Salvation

“Magnificat” isn’t just a term for every feline’s sense of self. It is also the name traditionally given (based on the beginning of the Latin translation) to Mary’s song, recorded in Luke 1:46-55. Here, in wonderful poetic expression, the mother of the Lord declared her marvel at God’s redeeming work.

            “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk. 1:47-47, ESV).  Thus the adoring heart responds to the infinite mercy, the awesome power, the incomparable divine condescension of the Incarnation.  For while God’s kindness to her personally is overwhelming (vv.48-49), the greater part of the song dwells upon the broader scope of God’s saving might.

            God reverses the power dynamics of this fallen world.  He humbles the arrogant, for the power of tyrants is powerlessness compared to Him (vv.51-52).  But He lifts up the lowly and blesses the poor (vv.52-53)—for God is compassionate and kind.  His grace is particularly displayed in the context of His covenants (vv.54-55); God is at work redeeming a people for Himself.  And the center of God’s mission is found in Christmas and Easter, in the saving life, death, resurrection, and reign of God the Son incarnate.

            Advent puts the tyrants of this world on notice.  Advent speaks hope to the poor and downtrodden.  Advent proclaims that God is accomplishing His world-shaking purpose to put all things right, and establish a kingdom of life and light for all who will have Christ as Savior and Lord.

            Let the souls of all the redeemed magnify the Lord, let our spirits rejoice in God our Savior—for the Almighty has done great things for us.

Fountain of Life

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, God, Hope, Light, Pandemic

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light” (Psalm 36:9, ESV).

            David continues to declare the love and kindness of God in poetic imagery.  From his picture of God as a bird sheltering its young under its wings (v.7), he speaks of God as a host providing abundantly, and of God’s blessings as a river of refreshment (v.8).  God is the source of life and light (v.9), the everlasting hope of mankind.

            Joy and hope come from God, the Lord of light and life.  He who created life is able to give life to those dead in sin, and relief to those who are burdened and oppressed; He who spoke light into being is able to give light to the lost, and lead us safely home to Himself.  In Christ, God’s children need fear no death or darkness.  In all our troubles, He is able to see us through.

Annunciation

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Advent, Angels, Christianity, Christmas, Encouragement, Gospel, Hope, Jesus Christ, Mary

In the narrative of Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary that she would bear the Christ, we see a profoundly moving testimony to the grace of God, who reaches down to us in redemption.

The scene begins with a fundamental contrast from the preceding episode. Earlier in the chapter, we read how Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, a priest, in the temple in Jerusalem–the center of Israel’s worship and identity. But now we turn to Nazareth, a backwater town in Galilee, and to an ordinary Jewish peasant girl. No mention is made of any power, prestige, heritage, wealth, or position that would set Mary apart as worthy in the world’s eyes. As the story proceeds, we see in her a humble faith and loyal submission to God–but even that is not described as a reason for this supreme honor bestowed upon her. God’s grace, His unearned favor, stands out in sharpest relief.

That is the first message Gabriel declares: “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Lk. 1:28, ESV). The message of God’s favor is quickly repeated (v.30). God’s favor upon Mary is realized in her selection to bear the Christ, the Son of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God the Son became man in the womb of the virgin Mary; an almost incomprehensible honor has been given her. God has reached down in grace, and shown the marvelous riches of His favor.

At Christmastime, we likewise rejoice in the wonder of God’s favor. God’s favor to Mary was His favor to us as well, for her child is the Savior of mankind, of all those who turn to Him in faith. God has reached down to all of us–in our little insignificance, in our lostness and sin, in our frailty and folly, in our weakness and wickedness–God has reached down to bring us life and hope and peace. God has sent His light into our dark world. God has come to us, to bring us home to Him.

God has favored us.

The Shadow of His Wings

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God, Gospel, Love, Pandemic, Protection, Security

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7, ESV).

            In his contrast of the faithful God with the treacherous wicked, David has already declared the vastness of the Lord’s “steadfast love” (v.5).  Now the wonder of it bursts forth in exuberant praise.  With a touching metaphorical image, the psalmist compares God’s compassion and protection to a bird sheltering its young beneath its wings.  The image may strike us as a strange one to use for God, but it accomplishes well the purpose of picturing His fatherly love and protection.

            Take a moment to meditate on the wonder of God’s steadfast love.  The Lord of all the universe takes notice of, protects, and has compassion on those who come to Him in faith.  Turn to Him with your sorrows and fears, and He will shelter you.

To the Heavens

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Christianity, Compassion, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Security

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5, ESV).

            In Psalm 36, David appeals to God, who brings down the proud wicked but looks kindly upon those who humbly turn to Him.  Arrogance and falseness characterize those who delight in evil (vv.1-4); but God is gracious and trustworthy (v.5).  In this poetic statement of the vastness of God’s love and faithfulness, we are reminded that we can look to Him for deliverance from all evil.

            God’s love is unfathomably vast.  His grace and mercy are like the infinite expanse above.  He is trustworthy, reliable, dependable; He keeps His promises.  Those who turn to God for forgiveness and life can have every confidence that their heavenly Father is merciful to forgive and faithful to save.  Take courage in the everlasting love of God Almighty.

Refuge in Him

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Pandemic, Peace, Salvation, Security, Strength

“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22, ESV).

            The tour of praise in Psalm 34 concludes with this verse, which finalizes the contrast between those who seek the Lord and the enemies of God; the enemies of God will suffer (v.21), but God will protect His people (vv.19-20, 22).  The contrast is particularly expressed in terms of condemnation, which will come on those who hate God’s people (v.21), but not on those who turn to God for deliverance.

            If we take refuge in God, we have nothing to fear.  The gospel promises deliverance from death and condemnation to all who place their trust in Jesus Christ.  Follow Him, and fear nothing that comes into your path.