Blessed By God's Great Love And Faithfulness

"Today's Devotion" For June 9, 2006

Read: Psalm 57; Proverbs 16:1-9

BLESSED BY GOD'S GREAT LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS

"For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (Psalm 57:10)

Well, as most of us know by now, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a bombing raid on one of his safe houses. The most important part of this story for us isn't so much that this man (who was responsible for so much death and destruction while turning people to suicide in the name of religion) was finally stopped, but that there is evil in the world and we're faced with a never ending struggle against it. Recent events in Somalia and the Sudan are reflective of a growing march of evil in the name of religion around the world. Love for one's neighbor, concern and compassion for those in need, and mercy for those who are weaker are not high priorities in much of the world. Rather, controlling others, demeaning others, and stripping them of their dignity has become more and more commonplace.

As we strive against evil in the world, we realize that we're not alone. David, in Psalm 57 and numerous others of his Psalms, cries out to God for deliverance and sustenance in the face of his enemies. David understood what it was to face evil, especially the evil that came from within his own people (Psalm 57 was written after David ran into the cave to escape Saul). David cries out to God for deliverance and gives Him thanks for saving him from his enemies. David exhorts himself to remain faithful, declaring his faith and trust in God's care and praising Him for His steadfast love and faithfulness to David, even in the midst of all of David's troubles. God's great love and faithfulness what sustained David, and also sustain us no matter how much evil we might face in the world.

As we face evil in our day we also draw strength and comfort from knowing that God is faithful and in His love for us He provides for atonement of our sins - fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We are also encouraged in our struggle with evil that the fear of the Lord helps us to keep from engaging in the evil that surrounds us (Pr.16:6). By God's grace we have received His strength so that we, through the Word and Spirit, might overcome evil by living lives of faith built on the righteousness of Christ. Truly blessed by God's great love and faithfulness we put ourselves in His hand, trust in His mercy, and let Him guide our lives of faith in service to Him - proclamation of and living in the Gospel of Christ as living witnesses of God's love and faithfulness to all. No one, not even people like the terrorists and the suicide bombers, can take away the hope we have because of God's love and faithfulness. He is our only sure and certain hope in the face of the evil that touches our world every day.

Prayer: Father, in Your great love and faithfulness, which extends beyond any bounds of the human imagination, You provide me with hope in the face of a "world gone mad" with Sin and the evil that causes it. In Your great love and faithfulness, I receive Your forgiveness of all my sins and the certainty that You are walking with me and guiding my footsteps to do Your will and serve Your purposes in this world. Keep me faithful, gracious Father, to You and Your love for me in Jesus. Keep me faithful as a living witness and testimony to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all mankind in Jesus. Let my life reflect the confidence and fearlessness of a disciple of Jesus Christ to face any situation, meet any challenge, and endure every evil so that I might lead others to Jesus so they, too, might be saved. In His most precious and holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.