March 19, 2019
Scripture Psalm 27:1, 13-14
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NRSV
I recommend that you read the full scripture lesson today, because the psalmist wrote powerful words to describe dual aspects of God: Light and Sovereign Power. For many Christians, these are seen separately or only in personal terms. Some of the older hymns reflect this: The phrase, “Let the ever-loving Light shine on me,” comes to mind. However, the Psalms proclaim that God is indescribably powerful: God is responsible for all knowledge in the world and, through God’s power, transmits this sense of eternal presence to humans and to all of Creation: As Psalm 27 proclaims, this has no limit!
God's power created the world and provides for our salvation, God determines our past, present, and future. And, the Psalms demonstrate that when we call out to God we are communicating and communing with God. This can, and should, be a process of transformation for us. And, since God seeks us God is already aware of our need. Having come to lead us to God, Christ taught us to approach God in worship and discipleship in this way, because God is sovereign and all-knowing. As a result, we worship God in awe and in thanksgiving. We do not gather to humor or cajole God. Despite our shortcomings and dependence on God, God loves us and reaches out to us continually through the Risen Christ, abiding with us through the Holy Spirit.
As we enter this third week of Lent, remember that God is our stronghold and our salvation. Through our time in prayer, study, and worship, we can “wait for the Lord…,” and our hearts will take courage (Psalm 27:14).
Stan Reid
Comentários