Not Abandoned

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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faithfulness, God, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love, Pandemic, Redemption, Salvation

“In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.  To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame” (Psalm 22:4-5, ESV).

            Psalm 22 is another psalm that begins from a place of desperation.  David cries out to God from a sense of abandonment, that God seems absent (vv.1-2).  But, even in the midst of this feeling of dereliction, he knows that God is the Holy One (v.3).  He reflects, then, upon God’s reliability and deliverance in the past (vv.4-5).  From there he will press his plea with God.  Perhaps the standout feature of this psalm is that Jesus chose the first part of the first verse to put into words His cry of dereliction on the cross.         

    God has shown His mercy and faithfulness in the past, and we can trust Him with our present trials, and with our future.  The ultimate display of God’s compassion is the saving death of our Savior Jesus Christ, who bore our sins upon the cross.  He took on Himself our abandonment, so that when we cry out to God we find mercy and grace.  Look to God in your struggles and doubts; He is strong to save.

Steadfast Love

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Bible, Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Faith, Faithfulness, God, Hope, Love, Pandemic, Salvation

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:5-6).

            Once again, these verses come as something of a reversal at the end of the psalm.  But this time it is a very short psalm, and so the passage from desperation (vv.1-2) to supplication (vv.3-4) to hope and praise (vv.5-6) is rather tight.  David endures grief and scorn, and God seems distant; but, rather than despair, he calls out to God for deliverance.  His confidence enables him to glorify the God of his salvation, whose mercies do not fail.

            What is the believer’s confidence, when God seems distant and trouble seems triumphant?  God’s love persists.  We stumble and fail, but God always accomplishes His purpose, God is always true to His word, God guards and redeems His people.  If we know this, can we find the depth of hope these verses describe, to cry out to God not only with requests and longings, but with joyful praise in His gift of salvation?  God is faithful.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 08/25/20

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Christianity, God, Love, Salvation, Trinity, Truth, Unitarianism

What’s Unitarianism, and why is it so important that Christians believe in the Trinity? Find out on today’s Tuesday Tea-ology!

The God Who Hears

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Christianity, Compassion, Devotional, God, Jesus Christ, Love, Prayer, Redemption, Salvation, Strength

“I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill” (Psalm 3:4, ESV).

            Knowing that God is his protector and hope, what is David’s course in the face of danger?  He calls out to God for deliverance; and the wonderful news is that he can report God’s care for him.  God is his shield, and has not failed to preserve him from his enemies.            

The Lord hears those who cry out to Him for help.  When trouble comes, turn to God and trust His power and wisdom.  Make your sorrows and fears into prayers to God Almighty, who is able to save, restore, and heal.  He who delivered David from his enemies can deliver you from any danger—and His final deliverance is promised to all who belong to Jesus Christ.

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.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 06/09/20

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Christ, Christianity, Love, Race, Tuesday Tea-ology

Today’s Tuesday Tea-ology: what is the church’s response to racism?

Easter, Afternoon

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Christianity, Easter, Father, God, holiness, Holy Week, Love, Power, Praise, Prayer, Resurrection

Father Almighty, we worship you on this joyful resurrection day. Be glorified, Almighty God, our Maker and Master, our Savior and King. Glory to you in your unfathomable love, in the mercy that delivered your Son for us. Glory to you in your invincible strength, in the power that raised Jesus our Savior from the dead. Glory to you in your unapproachable holiness, in your incomparable majesty, glory and honor and praise—Amen!

Good Friday, Noon

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Faithfulness, God, God the Son, Good Friday, Grace, Holy Week, Jesus Christ, Lordship, Love, Mercy, Praise, Prayer, Salvation

In the hour when darkness reigns, you still are Lord of all, majestic Son of God. Only your self-restraint, only your unfailing love, allowed the suffering you endured for us. For us you bore the blows and the mockery; for us you stood before the tribunals of men and were slandered and maligned. Matchless is your mercy, great God and Savior. Be glorified in the objects of your mercy today.

All Kindness

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Christianity, God, Grace, holiness, Holy Week, Love, Mercy, Prayer, Sanctification, Temptation

God of all kindness, look mercifully upon us. You are strong! Carry us, in your almighty strength. When we are tempted, teach us to lift our eyes to the cross, to remember your unflagging endurance and your invincible love. Shield us from doubt, sin, and all things that stand opposed to your holiness and the worship that is your due—Amen.

Holy Week, Tuesday

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Christianity, God, holiness, Holy Week, Love, Praise, Prayer, Trinity, Worship

All authority, all honor, all power and majesty and praise, belong to you, marvelous Triune God. You know all, see all, can do all; you are everywhere and everywhen, transcendent and immanent. You are holy and righteous, unstained by the merest spot of sin; you are loving and kind, filled with mercy and compassion towards your fallen creation. To love you with all ourselves is all our commission and joy—Amen.