Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Scripture: Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
You pardoned their sin.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
For God will speak peace to God’s people,
To God’s faithful, to those who turn to the Lord in their hearts.
Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who fear the Lord,
That God’s glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
And righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before hime,
And will make a path for his steps.
Devotion:
What a time to be alive! 2020 has dealt us one strange hand after another, and it can seem as though nothing is normal, nothing is calm, and nothing is clear. The news is confusing, the pandemic is terrifying, and the unrest of people in the world is palpable. Everyone around us seems like they are just trying to survive, just trying to get by, just trying to buy a roll of toilet paper or a box of tissues without issue. The lack of normalcy around us takes a toll on our mental and emotional health - we long to be with our church family, we long to sing out Christmas carols, and we long for the familiar traditions of the Advent season both at church and at home. Even as prudent as the decision is, we all experience grief as we prepare to worship virtually over the next couple of Sundays. Today’s Psalm seems to be written just for us: it reminds us that God was faithful to us before. Cross Roads has a long history of God being faithful in all kinds of situations, of God providing a way for this church to continue and to be a place for God’s family to do God’s work in the world. It also reminds us that God will continue to speak. Not maybe. Not sort of. Not - only if we’re in person or only if we go back to the way things were. God WILL speak. And God will speak a word of peace for God’s people. I wonder if God is speaking a word of peace to you today. I wonder if God is speaking a word of peace to our church community in this chaotic and strange time. I wonder how we will prepare our hearts to hear this peace.
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
You restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
You pardoned their sin.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
For God will speak peace to God’s people,
To God’s faithful, to those who turn to the Lord in their hearts.
Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who fear the Lord,
That God’s glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
And righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before hime,
And will make a path for his steps.
Devotion:
What a time to be alive! 2020 has dealt us one strange hand after another, and it can seem as though nothing is normal, nothing is calm, and nothing is clear. The news is confusing, the pandemic is terrifying, and the unrest of people in the world is palpable. Everyone around us seems like they are just trying to survive, just trying to get by, just trying to buy a roll of toilet paper or a box of tissues without issue. The lack of normalcy around us takes a toll on our mental and emotional health - we long to be with our church family, we long to sing out Christmas carols, and we long for the familiar traditions of the Advent season both at church and at home. Even as prudent as the decision is, we all experience grief as we prepare to worship virtually over the next couple of Sundays. Today’s Psalm seems to be written just for us: it reminds us that God was faithful to us before. Cross Roads has a long history of God being faithful in all kinds of situations, of God providing a way for this church to continue and to be a place for God’s family to do God’s work in the world. It also reminds us that God will continue to speak. Not maybe. Not sort of. Not - only if we’re in person or only if we go back to the way things were. God WILL speak. And God will speak a word of peace for God’s people. I wonder if God is speaking a word of peace to you today. I wonder if God is speaking a word of peace to our church community in this chaotic and strange time. I wonder how we will prepare our hearts to hear this peace.