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.

Trust Him

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, God, Pandemic, Power, Salvation, Security, Strength, Trust

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7, ESV).

            Psalm 20 begins with a series of blessings or requests, that God would deliver those who hear from danger and distress (vv.1-5).  God can save and protect, grant mercy and bless.  Then the psalm, already optimistic, moves to confidence in God’s deliverance.  The Lord brings salvation to His chosen one (v.6); thus the people of God trust in Him, rather than in the weapons of war (v.7).  God will sustain His people (v.8), and so the psalm ends with another triumphant petition and blessing (v.9).            

God is our confidence and hope.  No power rivals His, no might can compare with His strength.  No matter how weak we are in ourselves, if we rely upon the strength of God Almighty we have nothing to fear.  In your trials, entrust yourself to your great God and Savior, and have good hope, for your heavenly Father 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!

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”.

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.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 08/18/20

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Christianity, Deism, God, Gospel, Salvation, Tea, Theology, Tuesday Tea-ology

What about deism? What about double-bergamot earl grey? Find out on today’s Tuesday Tea-ology!

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.

Easter Tuesday

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Christianity, Crucifixion, Easter, God, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Mercy, Praise, Redemption, Resurrection, Salvation

I bless you, God Most High, for this day to declare your glory and the resurrection hope. Wonderful you are, and wonderful are your works for our redemption. Thank you for the love that sent your Son to the cross; thank you for the power that raised our Lord from the tomb. For your mercy and kindness, your majesty and strength, be forever praised, God Most High—Amen.

Easter, Evening

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Christianity, Easter, Father, God, God the Son, Holy Spirit, Holy Week, Jesus Christ, Praise, Prayer, Resurrection, Salvation, Trinity

Ever-blessed, ever-holy, Lord of life and light and love, ever-righteous, ever-mighty, God be praised this Easter dusk. We bless your Name and praise your majesty, Father-Son-Spirit, One God in Persons Three. Thank you for the gift of Jesus our Savior, for His atoning death, for His victorious resurrection, and for the gift of new life in Him. Draw us near, blessed God, in your so wonderful redemption—Amen.