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Devotional 6.5.26

 

June 5 – Remember the Living God

Psalm 42 [42:1-2, 11] – As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. … Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Scripture Reading – John 11:1-44

Hope can be defined as “a desire for a positive outcome, combined with the expectation, or belief, that it is attainable.” The psalmist expresses that his soul is downcast (sad, dejected, or without hope). Yet he says Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God (vv. 5, 11).

How does he shift from despair to praise and hope? He remembers (vv. 4, 6). He remembers that he is part of a community of faithful followers (v. 4]. He remembers that his God is one who by day commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with him (v. 8). This must have helped him to recall God’s faithfulness to Israel when he led them through the wilderness out of Egypt during the day by fire, and at night by cloud. The psalmist reminds himself that God’s character and faithfulness are not dependent on or defined by his current circumstances.

Similarly, Mary and Martha aren’t just downcast, they are deeply grieved by the death of their brother Lazarus. Yet, Jesus reminded Martha who he is, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (vv. 25-26) Later her told her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (v. 40) 

We will have sorrow, sadness and pain in this life. Sometimes we will experience relief, and sometimes we will not. But we can cling to hope because of not only who Jesus said he is, but by what he did. His life, death, and resurrection transcend this life because he is the living God, which means he is our living hope. We will sing about these promises Sunday. In “Nothing But the Blood” we remember how precious is the flow that makes us white as snow. In “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death” we sing hallelujah, our hope springs eternal. We’ll “behold our God,” and then close by singing “Living Hope,” Hallelujah, there’s salvation in your name. Jesus Christ, my living hope.

Further reading: Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 7:37-38; Romans 12:12; Hebrews 6:18-20 

Reflection Questions:

1.     How do you answer Jesus’ question, do you believe this?

2.     What do you need to remember today so that you can again praise him, your salvation and your God? 

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the resurrection and the life, the living God. When I am downcast, help me to remember your faithfulness, and that I can praise you through my circumstances and cling to Jesus Christ, my living hope. Amen. 


You can listen to the morning playlist here.

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