7/16/18
This is an encore post.
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 23 is one of the most common Scriptures to read when beside a hospital bed, especially at the end of life or in case of grave illness. We seem to fixate on the part about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And it’s right that we do. However, we also find great gain when we look at the very end of the Psalm. What’s the result of God’s work in his people? He gives eternal life. This is especially significant as we look at verse six.
Here we are reminded that God’s faithful love will go with us all the days of our life. How long is that? In Christ and His resurrection, that’s eternity. God’s house, his place of perfect love and faithfulness, is where the Christian is today, tomorrow, in death, and in the resurrection. We are forever partakers of God’s blessings. We have life that lasts forever, and it’s a good life. It’s full of God’s provision.
When we face illness, strife, discomfort, and all the trials of this life, though they are difficult, we can remember that God in Christ has taken care of it all. He is the one who can lead us, now and forever. He’s the one who has given himself for us and will never leave us. There’s great comfort in knowing the Lord who is the good shepherd. He’s always on duty. He has never stopped leading his people. He’ll lead them home.
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.
This is an encore post.
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 23 is one of the most common Scriptures to read when beside a hospital bed, especially at the end of life or in case of grave illness. We seem to fixate on the part about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And it’s right that we do. However, we also find great gain when we look at the very end of the Psalm. What’s the result of God’s work in his people? He gives eternal life. This is especially significant as we look at verse six.
Here we are reminded that God’s faithful love will go with us all the days of our life. How long is that? In Christ and His resurrection, that’s eternity. God’s house, his place of perfect love and faithfulness, is where the Christian is today, tomorrow, in death, and in the resurrection. We are forever partakers of God’s blessings. We have life that lasts forever, and it’s a good life. It’s full of God’s provision.
When we face illness, strife, discomfort, and all the trials of this life, though they are difficult, we can remember that God in Christ has taken care of it all. He is the one who can lead us, now and forever. He’s the one who has given himself for us and will never leave us. There’s great comfort in knowing the Lord who is the good shepherd. He’s always on duty. He has never stopped leading his people. He’ll lead them home.
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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