3/20/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Psalm 142 reflects on the loneliness we all feel sometimes. Sadly, some people are confronted with these feelings much of the time. Sometimes it is with very good reason also. We look to the right and to the left and find ourselves apparently standing alone. Actually, we aren’t altogether alone. We think there are some others who have set traps for us. Maybe they are visible enemies, maybe they are not visible. We don’t know where the traps are.
The fact is, any time we try to confess that this is a really nice world where everything is good, we are confronted with contrary evidence. The reasonable conclusion is that the world is imperfect. Christian theology has always viewed it in terms of God’s curse of sin. Because of the fallen nature of the world we may well feel alone and abandoned.
Thanks be to God that Jesus, God in the flesh, has been shown as the one who could cancel the debt of sin. He is the one who has reversed the curse. After rising from the dead he promised to bring life and forgiveness to those who believe. He promised that he would never abandon his people.
When it looks dark and dangerous we can look to Jesus in hope. He is the one who can keep us in eternity, safe from all enemies.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Psalm 142 reflects on the loneliness we all feel sometimes. Sadly, some people are confronted with these feelings much of the time. Sometimes it is with very good reason also. We look to the right and to the left and find ourselves apparently standing alone. Actually, we aren’t altogether alone. We think there are some others who have set traps for us. Maybe they are visible enemies, maybe they are not visible. We don’t know where the traps are.
The fact is, any time we try to confess that this is a really nice world where everything is good, we are confronted with contrary evidence. The reasonable conclusion is that the world is imperfect. Christian theology has always viewed it in terms of God’s curse of sin. Because of the fallen nature of the world we may well feel alone and abandoned.
Thanks be to God that Jesus, God in the flesh, has been shown as the one who could cancel the debt of sin. He is the one who has reversed the curse. After rising from the dead he promised to bring life and forgiveness to those who believe. He promised that he would never abandon his people.
When it looks dark and dangerous we can look to Jesus in hope. He is the one who can keep us in eternity, safe from all enemies.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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