“Your Hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn Your commands.

May those who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your Word.

I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.

Let Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight.

May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on Your precepts.

May those who fear You turn to me, those who understand Your statutes.

May my heart be blameless toward Your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.”

-Psalm 119:73-80 (Yodh)

God is our hope. His promises carry weight because it is a sure outcome. He has proved Himself over and over. God doesn’t have to bestow such wondrous love, uncommon grace, or measureless mercy. Yet He cannot be anything contrary to His nature- He will not. Our hope is in the strength of His salvation, the sufficient work of Christ, His imputed righteousness, our eternal peace and fellowship with God Himself. This is our joy and blessing. Remembering these truths will help you and I live out a life of love for our Father like the psalmist does. 

We can also follow the psalmist’s example by not concerning ourselves with those bent on harming Christians. Rather, we focus on enjoying fellowship with other believers, as means of grace God has given each of us. As the world drifts toward the pull of distractions and lies, God’s people learn to cling to Him even if we feel alone. The Lord is faithful to lead His sheep Home. For now, our response is to stay faithful and “contend for the faith”, keeping an eternal perspective. When Christ returns we will not be put to shame.

Grace upon grace,

April

Grow deeper: Jude 3-4; 1 Kings 19:1-18