God With Us

-


Scripture: Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

4     Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Devotion:

            As we have seen, God sees and hears us; today, we explore what it means for God to be with us. These words from the beloved Psalm 23 speak loudly to today’s culture. We live in a world where threats seem to be on every side. No matter where we turn, there are threats to our property, freedoms, and even our very lives. Violence seems to have this world in its grip. Whether it is violence between countries, on our streets, or even in our homes, it seems that nowhere is safe anymore.

            David, the writer of this psalm, offers solace and hope with these words. He proclaims that even in the face of imminent death, we need not be afraid. God has pledged to journey with us through all the seasons of life, leading us to our final resurrection and eternal bliss with Him in paradise. The word picture David paints in this verse is vivid and would have resonated deeply with his first audience. In the twenty-first century, however, they need a little explanation.

            David writes of a shepherd's rod and staff. The rod was used as a weapon to defend the flock from predator attacks, while the staff was used to correct and guide the flock through the countryside. Having these two implements with them, the shepherds could be comforted that they had what they needed to guide and protect the flock under their care. David’s words comfort all of us. God will provide all we need to live and flourish in this world. It does not matter what threats come our way God will provide all that we could possibly need.

            Let us pray for calmness and serenity in the face of the challenges of modern life.

Prayer:

            Lord, help us to take comfort in these beautiful words written so long ago. Please help us to realize that you are genuinely with us amid all life’s ups and downs. Teach us to rely on your help at all times. Assure us of your presence whenever we are anxious and troubled. Forgive us for our lack of faith, and restore joy in the knowledge of your presence with us. Let us depend on you for comfort and eternal life, even in death. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more