WEEKLY DEVOTION

— “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 (read v. 1-14)

What have we to fear? The LORD God who created us is our Light and our Salvation! As a light shining in this dark and sinful world, He reveals our utter sinfulness but also reveals Himself as our Savior, the source of our life.

When Satan and all his evil forces attack and accuse us, need we doubt our salvation and be afraid? No! For the LORD Himself is our salvation. He took on human flesh and blood - a body and soul - in the virgin Mary and became true man, taking our place under God’s law. He fulfilled all righteousness in our stead and He bore the full, just punishment for our sins and the sins of the whole world when He suffered and died upon the cross, and He rose again in triumph and victory. For Christ’s sake, God’s just anger is turned away from us and He reaches out to us in mercy offering, giving and assuring to us His pardon and forgiveness in Christ Jesus (cf. 2 Cor. 5:19-21). As Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matt. 9:2), so God tells and assures us in His Word that in Christ “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:6,7). We have the assurance of heaven for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Light and Salvation!

And, as God’s redeemed, “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26), we can enter into the very presence of the LORD with our prayers and praises. “I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Psalm 5:7; cf. 1 John 5:11-15).

And, in this world, when we come under attack from the wicked around us - when the devil and his evil forces would eat us up - we need not fear, for the LORD Himself is on our side and fights for us, working all things for our good (cf. Rom. 8:28). “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD” (Psalm 27:5-6).

Therefore, we wait upon the LORD and take courage in Him. He shall strengthen our hearts and keep us until He brings us safely into His kingdom of glory. “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim. 4:18).

O LORD God, my Light and my Salvation, keep me through the troubles of this life and bring me safely unto the joys of heaven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Community News, Pages 4 on 01/26/2011