Thursday February 11th, 2016 Psalm 91:1-2,9-16
Those who love me, I will deliver? (verse 14)
Instead of security in our status, or in our power, or in our privilege-these are all temporary, we do not take them with us at the end of our days-our real security is in God. In the shelter of the Most High, we are enabled to face all threats that come from outside of us and all threats that come from inside of us. From the lion that threatens to attack us, the evil in our world, and the evil done to us, to the serpent that threatens to choke or poison, the temptations and the griefs within us.
With God, our refuge, giving strength, we can call the lion a kitten, the serpent a liar, and the stumbling stone a building block of growth and understanding.
David defeated lions, and went on to defeat Goliath and the Philistines. The serpent was a sneaky liar in the Garden of Eden, dealing in half-truths. We stumble and fall from temptations to power, privilege and self-indulgences of many kinds, but when we face our truth, we grow and mature. The stumbling stones become building blocks.
Jesus, the truth, was the stumbling stone to those who clung to power and privilege and status, instead of to God.
O God, give us hearts to always return to you, our refuge and strength. Amen. — HV
Contributed by Lions, Snakes and Stones
Instead of security in our status, or in our power, or in our privilege-these are all temporary, we do not take them with us at the end of our days-our real security is in God. In the shelter of the Most High, we are enabled to face all threats that come from outside of us and all threats that come from inside of us. From the lion that threatens to attack us, the evil in our world, and the evil done to us, to the serpent that threatens to choke or poison, the temptations and the griefs within us.
With God, our refuge, giving strength, we can call the lion a kitten, the serpent a liar, and the stumbling stone a building block of growth and understanding.
David defeated lions, and went on to defeat Goliath and the Philistines. The serpent was a sneaky liar in the Garden of Eden, dealing in half-truths. We stumble and fall from temptations to power, privilege and self-indulgences of many kinds, but when we face our truth, we grow and mature. The stumbling stones become building blocks.
Jesus, the truth, was the stumbling stone to those who clung to power and privilege and status, instead of to God.