Devotions with Pastor John

Mar 25

Written By

Dear Friends,

Hope you are holding up under the strain of this pandemic. Truly, we live in remarkable times.

I was thinking about several "upsides" this morning.

My daughter was remarking about how extraordinary it would be if they cancel the rest of the school year. "This is a story you'll be able to tell you grandchildren about," I said. Indeed, we will all have some stories to tell.

A few other observations: traffic certainly is better. No one wants to hit me and cause me to get out of the car. They're all afraid I may have the virus. There were no angry drivers looming up at me in the rearview mirror as I pulled out of my driveway. The streets are so quiet.

I had a slow and lingering breakfast with my daughter this morning. Normally, we race around in the morning trying to get out of the house. There is no rush anymore.

Today I realized that I haven't been late to anything this week. Normally, I'm running behind and in a rush. All my appointments have cancelled. There isn't anything to be late to. It's rather nice.

Tonight we're going to have game night. I can't remember the last time my kids asked to play games. It's refreshing.

Today, I'd like to invitee you to join me in the book of Psalms. Psalm 34. I'll break it up with commentary in between.

Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

Notice how it begins with praise? The praise of Almighty God. Even in the midst of our current crisis we can still praise God. It is right that we should. It is right to sing the praises of God through our tears, it is right to sing the praises of God in our grief, in our fear, in our anxiety. It is right to sing the praises of God in an empty church. God is God and in Him is all our hope. We have no other hope. No one else can save us. Let us never stop praising the name of the Lord our God.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

I sought the Lord and He answered me. Remember when Jesus taught us, "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you,"? And again when he teaches us that when two or three of us agree on anything in prayer it shall be given to us? And again when he says that whatever we ask for in His name shall be give to us? The Lord God hears our prayers. Jesus has given us his access to the God of all creation. God hears and He answers us. He doesn't ignore us. God hears and He will save us.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

Remember when Israel was in the wilderness? The Lord gave them an angel to protect them. His presence was seen in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God provided manna, quail and water from a rock. God will protect us and he will provide for us.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

Turn from evil and do good. Repent. Martin Luther said the life of Christian is a life of repentance. It means to turn around, to change, to turn back to God, get back on the right path. Faced with this virus, isn't that what we need to do? Don't we need to humble ourselves and confess our sins? Don't we, as a planet, need to turn from evil and turn to God, the Ultimate Good? I think we do. More on that during Sunday's sermon.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Do you feel crushed in spirit? Has this stressful time gotten the better of you? I have good news for you. Here's the gospel: When we can go on no longer, God comes and gets us. If you're at the end of your rope, you're at the beginning of God's mercy. He's got you. Sometimes we have to stop thrashing about looking for something to hold on to so that we can let God save us. When He's the only way out, we've found our way into His kingdom. So don't give up, reach out and let God take you. You're in the best of all possible hands.

The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord will rescue his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

God is our safe harbor, our rock, our salvation. Scripture tells us that the "Word of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are saved." God is our refugee and strength. A very present help in trouble. He will save us. Have faith. Believe the good news. This is not the end.

Hold fast, Zion! God bless you. Thanks for reading.