Day 77 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2 Chronicles 4:1-5:1; Psalm 72; Luke 5:12-26)
DON’T BE AFRAID, GOD HAS SAVED YOU
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come... He will come and save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4 ESV)
As we continue seeking our way through these days of the coronavirus pandemic, what comfort we can all take in the Lord’s encouragement to be strong and not fear.
“Be strong, and don’t be afraid.” That sounds like good advice, doesn’t it? It sounds like the kind of advice a football coach would give to one of his players, or the kind of advice that might be given to someone attempting to meet a personal challenge. The implication in that advice is that the person being encouraged can find strength in themselves. Isaiah’s advice directs his hearers elsewhere.
God will come and defend you. He will save you. In fact, He has already come and has already saved you. He did this by sending Jesus, the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Jesus has saved you by taking on Himself the punishment for your sins. Therefore you no longer need to fear sin, death and the devil because nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God that is yours in Christ Jesus, your Lord (Romans 8:39)... including the coronavirus!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me and for driving fear out of my life. Please grant healing to those afflicted with the Coronavirus, grant mercy to those who lost loved ones to this pandemic, and protect the rest of us. But most importantly, please keep all of us close to You today, tomorrow and forever. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2020 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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