Friday, February 14, 2025

Just Another Ordinary Day: With the Future in Sight

138:7               Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

                        you preserve my life;

             you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

                        and your right hand delivers me.

            David trusts Yhwh and knows that His promises are sure. David looks toward the future when all God’s promises will finally be fulfilled. Until that day, however, David knows that he still exists and lives in the midst of trouble. And so do we as we live out our lives in Christ in a fallen and broken world.

            David made a confession to Yhwh;

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

                        you preserve my life;

             you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

                        and your right hand delivers me.

            God is not only the creator of life, but He also preserves your life. We confess this in the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed;

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil.

All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.

This is most certainly true.[1]

            Like David look to the certain future of God’s promises, which brought him strength in this life, so too the Christian. We know that Jesus is returning on the Last Day. That’s a “for certain” certainty. Until that Day God in Christ Jesus remains with you today.

411 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

2     I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path,
And show me the way to the Father. Refrain

ref  In Him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

3     I’m looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
We shall know the joy of Jesus. Refrain

Text: © 1970, 1975 Celebration. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000694

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[1] Luther, Martin. Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation – 2017 Edition (p. 133).