Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tues., 9/23/08 Devotion (Ps. 74:12)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 74:12, where we read these words:

"For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth."

This verse is sweet for several reasons. 1) There is a personal dimension to it: the Lord is the churchman's own "King." Then, there is a cosmic aspect: God is "working salvation in the midst of the earth." The same God who has secured the eternal salvation of those already in His justifying care is also at work to bring others to Himself.

Let us never despair of how "bad" things are, or seem on the earth. The flesh, the devil, and the world system set up against the Lord and His Christ have *already* been defeated in Jesus' resurrection. They are simply in their hysterical and frantic "last gasps" of seeking to (vainly and futilely) overcome the God of heaven.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[For] you who do love Christ, and have the manifestations of His love to your souls. . . . Of all persons in the world, you have most reason to rejoice. You are the happiest men and women alive." --Thomas Vincent, in "The True Christian's Love to the Unseen Christ"]