Tuesday Tea-ology, 04/06/21

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Christianity, Easter, Forgiveness, God, Gospel, Hope, Jesus Christ, Life, Resurrection, Salvation, Theology, Tuesday Tea-ology

Today on Tuesday Tea-ology, 04/06/21: As we celebrate the joy of Easter, we reflect on the heart of the gospel and the meaning of that wonderful proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.

A Contrite Heart

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Christ, Christianity, Compassion, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Forgiveness, God, Gospel, Grace, Mercy, Pandemic, Salvation

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17, ESV).

            Psalm 51 is a penitent psalm, as David cries out to the Lord for forgiveness.  His plea is based upon the unfathomable mercy, the “steadfast love” of God (v.1).  The king confesses his sinfulness, recognizing that God is ultimately the one against whom his sins offend (vv.3-6); yet God is able to forgive, restore, and cleanse the guilty conscience (vv.7-12).  David looks for His salvation with hope for the future (vv.13-15), recognizing that it is not truly outward sacrifices that please God (v.16), but repentance of the heart (v.17)—yet we must read this in the context of the whole of Scripture, and recognize that a penitent heart is not enough unless it takes hold of the true sacrifice for sins, the cross of Christ.

            God is merciful to those who call upon Him.  No gifts can really enrich God, no works really benefit Him; but He has compassion on those who humbly seek His grace.  In love, God sent His own Son to sacrifice for our sins; in mercy, He will receive those who come to Him.  Keep your trust fully fixed upon the wonderful love of God.

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.

Trust in the Lord

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Forgiveness, God, Hope, Jesus Christ, Joy, Life, Pandemic, Peace

“Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:10-11, ESV).

            This concludes David’s psalm of gratitude for God’s deliverance.  He has traced his gratitude for God’s forgiveness (vv.3-5), and offered the wise advice that others should turn to the Lord (vv.6-9), the exhortation to repentance and faith which comes from an experience of God’s redeeming love.  Here follows the moral, the message of life in returning to the Lord—and it is a message of joy.

            God invites us to know the comfort and protection of His love, and the joy that comes from a right relationship with Him.  In Christ, He forgives all our sins and makes us clean and holy in His sight; He shelters us and blesses us; He promises us a home forever with Him.  Whatever challenges you face today, take joy and hope in the wonderful love of God.

A Hiding Place

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Forgiveness, God, Hope, Pandemic, Peace, Security, Strength

“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7, ESV).

            In Psalm 32, David reflects gratefully on the loving mercy of God.  He declares how blessed it is to know God’s forgiveness (v.1), and describes the freedom he found in confession and repentance before the Lord (vv.2-5).  God is a refuge, and we should seek Him (v.6), and echo the wonderful words of comfort of this verse.            

Take refuge in the mercy of God.  When you are afraid, when you are in danger, when you are troubled, take refuge in God.  His strength is invincible, His compassion is unfathomable, His wisdom is uncontestable.  He can shield you from harm, and give you peace in the midst of trouble.  Shelter in the arms of the Almighty.

Joy Comes with the Morning

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Hope, Kindness, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Peace, Redemption, Salvation

“Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.  For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:4-5, ESV).

            Psalm 30 lifts up praise to God for His wonderful mercy.  David reflects gratefully on God’s gracious deliverance in the past, in protection and healing and salvation from death (vv.1-3).  The following verses urge all of God’s people to join the praise, with a focus on the gracious character of God (vv.4-5).  The latter half repeats these same themes, recalling God’s deliverance and rejoicing in His kindness (vv.6-12).  Verses 4-5 set the focus of the whole thing firmly on the divine mercy.            

God is loving and merciful.  In the midst of trouble, God’s people can still praise Him and declare the wonders of His grace.  Marvelous is His mercy, wonderful His love.  When we have turned away into temptation and sorrow, we can return with good hope, and find welcome again in the loving arms of our heavenly Father.

A Merciful Father

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

“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in” (Psalm 27:10).

            The psalmist David’s confident exultation from verse 5 continued in the joyful exuberance of verse 6, but turned in the next few verses to supplication.  He pleaded with God for a merciful answer to his cries (v.7), citing that he seeks the Lord (v.8), and imploring God to receive him (v.9).  Though he pleads, there is still a sense of certain hope based on the character of God.  God is faithful and trustworthy, full of mercy and compassion.  Thus the comparison in verse 10, that even if a father and mother forsake their child, the Lord mercifully receives those who call out to Him.            

God is faithful to His children, and full of compassion and love.  God mercifully receives all those who cry out to Him.  He is the standard of fatherly love, next to which even the best of human parents fall short.  Turn to God when you are in trouble.  Return to God when you fall into temptation.  Trust in Jesus Christ, and look to your heavenly Father to lift you up in His mercy and grace.

Lift Up Your Soul

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, Forgiveness, God, Hope, Pandemic, Strength, Trust

“To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul, O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me” (Psalm 25:1-2, ESV).

            David begins thus a psalm significantly focused on seeking the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness.  Though David has sinned, he puts his hope in the graciousness of God to those who seek Him (v.3).  God’s love and goodness are the focus of David’s hope, even against the backdrop of his own sinfulness (vv.6-7).  It is a comfort to read these words, and find a hope for sinners in the gracious forgiveness of God.            

Lift up your soul to the Lord.  God is gracious and merciful to all who humbly seek Him, the Savior of all who place their trust in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose to bring us life.  When you give in to temptation, look to God for mercy and forgiveness.  When you face danger and uncertainty, look to God for protection.  When you face hardship and sorrow, look to God for strength and comfort.  Lift up your soul to God, who has compassion upon all His children.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 06/30/20

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Compassion, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Hope, Life, Mercy, Peace, Salvation, Tuesday Tea-ology

Tuesday Tea-ology is here, about the grace and compassion of God.

Hard Words

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Forgiveness, God, Jesus Christ, Kindness, Love

Over at Medium, I’ve posted a reflection on Jesus’ call to love your enemies. Important for Christians to bear in mind, in these days of strife.