Salvation and Glory

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, God, Hope, Pandemic, Protection, Redemption, Salvation, Security, Trust

“On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God” (Psalm 62:7, ESV).

            In this verse, David elaborates on the theme of God as fortress he has been repeating (vv.2, 6).  God is the center of his hope.  Trust is expressed in two dimensions: declaring God the focus of his future, and describing God as the place of safety from danger.  Turning aside from all vain glory and all passing hopes of deliverance, true confidence is to be found in the unfailing, invincible God.

            God is able to protect and provide, to rescue and redeem, to free and fulfill, in every time, in every place, in every situation.  Make God your total trust.  He will save and glorify those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  He will be a stronghold of hope for those who call upon Him.

Our Helper

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Pandemic, Redemption, Salvation, Strength

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life” (Psalm 54:4, ESV).

            Psalm 54 emphasizes God’s power to protect against the schemes of the wicked.  David calls out to the Lord for rescue from the hands of those who conspire against him (vv.1-3).  Verse 4 is the hinge, where the psalm turns from petition to confidence in God’s protection (vv.4-5); the expectation of grateful worship follows (v.6), built on assurance of God’s salvation (v.7).

            You are not alone, whatever you may face.  Christians have the greatest possible comfort in this life, knowing that God Almighty cares for them and will carry them through every danger, and shield them from every fear.  Take heart, and trust in the Lord.

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.

A New Song

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, Faithfulness, God, Hope, Joy, Pandemic, Peace, Redemption, Salvation

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3, ESV).

            David details the deliverance for which he waited patiently (v.1), and which God brought in a complete rescue and restoration to security (v.2).  This third verse describes the effect of God’s rescue upon David’s heart, and upon those who will behold what God has done; the wonders of God’s love restore joy to the soul, and testify to the greatness of God.

            However rocky the road may be, the destination for God’s people is joy.  God’s salvation, the wonderful working of His power and love, brings songs of worshipful delight, and declares that He alone is the source of salvation.  Wait upon Him, trust Him, and He will lift you up.

Wait Patiently

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, Faithfulness, God, Hope, Pandemic, Peace, Redemption

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1, ESV).

            Another psalm of David, in which he reflects on God’s deliverance in his own life, and the hope for all who trust in the Lord.  God has rescued him and brought him to a place of rejoicing—a testimony to others of the redeeming power of the Almighty (vv.2-3).  The beginning sets a tone for others to imitate; patience is a response of faith to the God who hears and cares for those who cry.

            Wait patiently for the Lord.  God hears those who call to Him, and looks with pity on the hurting soul.  Abide in hope when life is hard, and keep good courage in the face of fear; God’s time is right, and His strength unstoppable.

Taste and See

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Goodness, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Mercy, Pandemic, Protection, Redemption, Salvation, Security

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, ESV).

            David has been reflecting on the goodness of God, who saves those who cry out to Him.  He has experienced God’s deliverance (vv.4-6), and attests the Lord’s protection of His people—“those who fear him” (v.7).  Now he calls people to experience for themselves God’s goodness, using the profoundly sensory language of tasting.  God can be known, and His kindness enjoyed by those who turn to Him.

            God is good, and we can know Him.  This is one dimension of the gospel promise: by faith in Jesus Christ, we can take refuge in God, and know His kindness and protection.  Take your burdens and fears to the Lord; He is strong to save all who call upon Him.

Radiant

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Christianity, Compassion, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Hope, Mercy, Pandemic, Power, Redemption, Salvation, Security

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:4-5).

            David declares the mighty deliverance of God in this psalm; God is extolled in the words of His grateful servant, and others are urged to join in the praise (vv.1-3).  This is the testimony of one who has experienced the Lord’s rescue.  He declares God’s faithfulness, that others may look to the Lord, and find salvation.

            God can deliver us from all our fears.  No situation is beyond His power, no person is beyond the reach of His redeeming love.  The testimonies of the saints throughout the ages, even in Old Testament times, should be a great encouragement as we face our own struggles.  God has redeemed His people; God can lift you up, and make you radiant, victorious and unashamed.

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.

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.

God of Salvation

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Christianity, Devotional, God, Jesus Christ, Peace, Persecution, Power, Redemption, Salvation, Security, Strength

“Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!” (Psalm 3:8, ESV).

            David has seen God’s deliverance, and he is confident that he will see it again.  God has sustained him (v.5), and so he takes courage, even against overwhelming odds (v.6).  This final statement encapsulates the theme of the psalm: “Salvation belongs to the LORD”, God is able to save.

            God is able to save.  We never need to fear, because in any and every situation, God is strong to deliver His people, to lift them up in His way and His time.  Those who belong to Christ may rest in His strength, and in this word of peace; we are in His hands, no matter what.  “Salvation belongs to the LORD”.