Devotion of the Day

“THEN THE LORD…”

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
Psalm 27:10

From childhood we like protection and security, someone to turn to. But loved ones fail us in one way or another. Death takes them, distance divides us, other circumstances render them unable to come to our aid. Some know the bitterness of being cast out or deserted by their own people. Precious as is the love and companionship and assistance of our dear ones, we had better not make that our main stay. We can be bereft of them in a moment and forsaken in tragic ways. Sometimes they remain, but because of infirmity cannot help us any more.

But when the choicest companions cannot walk with us, God says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” It was a desolate man, forsaken of one he thought loved him, who penned out of his desperation, “O Love that wilt not let me go.” It is well to reckon on the possibility of utter bereavement, of being forsaken by those we hold dearest; but along with it we may count on the promise of never being forsaken by Him who is dearest of all. At the point of darkest human loneliness – then the Lord.

Devotion of the Day

REJOICE TODAY!

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

We live on retrospect and anticipation. “Yesterday was so wonderful. How we did rejoice and how glad we were in it!” “Tomorrow will be a great day. We will rejoice and be glad then.” But today – that is different.

Distance lends enchantment to the view, so yesterday is haloed by the glory of the past. And anticipation does so exceed fulfillment that tomorrow looks better today. Between the two lies now and it suffers by comparison.

But true joy is not in days either past or present or to come but in Christ, and He is with us “all the days,” as He promised. He is the same yesterday, when we did rejoice. He is the same forever, all the tomorrows, through all eternity, when we shall rejoice. But He is also the same today, the day which the Lord hath made. We will be glad and rejoice in it, but better still in Him.