Day 8 - Thursday

Bible Readings: 1 Peter 3:18-22; Psalm 33:13-22

¹³From heaven the Lord looks down
    and sees all mankind;
¹⁴ from his dwelling place he watches
    all who live on earth—
¹⁵ he who forms the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do. (Psalm 33:13-15)

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.    (1 Peter 3:18)

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When you think about God, what comes to mind?  When your mind ponders the mysteries of the heavenly realms, where does your imagination take you? 

The Psalmist in our reading today imagines that God is looking down from heaven (Psalm 33:13) and watches us.  Some have used this image of God and created depictions of an old man sitting on a throne in the clouds, disconnected from the world but watching from a distance.  And in these depictions often the only interaction that God has with humans is a swift lightning strike when someone steps out of line.  This may seem overly fantastical but on several occasions, I have heard people say that don’t want to go to church because if they do, they will probably get struck by lightning!

The Psalmist paints a different picture.  He does not imagine a God who is disconnected from creation but rather he sees that “…the earth is full of his unfailing love”  (Psalm 33:5b).   He does not see a God who is watching and waiting to take advantage of the weak, but rather God looks upon people with a heart for justice and righteousness and truth.  For the psalmist, God is the only one who can truly rescue his people and has the heart (will) to do so.   

 We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.   (Psalm 33:20-22)

As we journey through Lent, we are once again reminded that God enters our own sinfulness and suffering, not as judge, but as rescuer.  The journey of grace is one in which you are led by Christ into salvation, “to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).   

Maybe this is a good reminder for us today on our own journeys, whatever challenges we might be facing.  God is not watching you from a distance, waiting to see what you will do.  He has already come to you, met you where you are at, and wants to lead you by his grace. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the way that you have revealed your love in my life. Help me to always place my hope in you.  When I feel discouraged by my inability to change my circumstances, teach me to rejoice in your faithfulness and wait in hope for your plan to unfold as I follow Christ.  Amen.