Wed., 2/20/13 Devotion (Ex. 3:7-8a)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 3:7 & 8a, where God said this to Moses:

"I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them . . . "

It is heartening to know that God sees the troubles of His church on earth, that He hears our prayers, and that He is well-acquainted with our griefs. But this would mean little, if He did not "come down" to "deliver" us. God did come down, ultimately, in Jesus Christ's incarna-tion.

Through the Messiah's humanity now, God is always "down here" with His people, by virtue of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in His church. Are we troubled today? Let us look to the God who is as close as our prayer.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Such a high degree of courtesy in so great a person as this apostle [Paul] reproves all those professing Christians who, though far below Paul, are not courteous and respectful in their behavior to their neighbors, and especially to their superiors." --Jona-than Edwards, in his sermon, "The Character of Paul an Example to Christians"]