Help
Originally scheduled for
December 18
May we begin with
one of the most famous Psalms the Bible?
I lift up my
eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes
from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your
foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who
watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches
over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will
not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you
from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch
over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
(Psalms 121:1-8 TNIV)
It is a Psalm of great
comfort. It promises us help from the Lord, whose characteristics
are well known:
·
God is
powerful.
·
God is
eternal, and therefore diligent.
·
God is
the God who loves you.
So the Psalm says. But how
do we know that this is true?
·
The
power of God is clear when you look at the universe. See what his
hands have done! His power is not disputable.
·
This
diligence may be seen in how he sustains the universe. The laws of
physics do not change with time, because God, their creator, is
eternal.
·
But
how do we know that he loves us? We may examine the stars diligently
but can we see God's love there?
Nature does not display
God's love, but that does not mean it is not on display. You take
communion each time as a reminder of his love. The practicing
Christian is a living display of God's love; in communion he
displays it symbolically.
·
The
cup is a symbol of his blood, which reminds us of the sacrifice of
his life by which we are pardoned.
·
The
bread is a symbol of his body, the Temple of the spirit. That body
was tormented so that you might live forever.
As you partake today,
remember to examine yourself. This is commanded of you. Once you
have done so, take the time to reflect upon his great love for you.
His body was broken; his blood was shed so that you might live
eternally.
