Bask in the shelter of the Almighty

I want you to pretend you are going on a forty-day backpacking trip in a very remote wilderness area in a place about which you are totally unfamiliar. While packing the right supplies for the trip would be very important, perhaps the most important thing would be to hire a guide who knew the area and could safely lead you to your daily destinations. 

This weekend’s worship will include Luke’s account of Jesus being tempted by the evil one in the wilderness for forty days. Jesus as true man as well as being true God was truly experiencing what we experience when being tempted with one big exception. As the writer to the Hebrews puts it: “We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) 

Now listen to these words from Psalm 91: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1–2, NIV) Do you hear God’s invitation? Life is filled with so many challenges that make us anxious and afraid, especially as we contemplate the unknown (and sometimes fill our minds with all the “news” that promises nothing but disaster). Our Lord invites us to come to Him and find our strength and peace there. 

Now listen to the last few verses of Psalm 91: “‘Because he loves Me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.’”  (Psalm 91:14–16, NIV) In Jesus, our God has shown us His salvation – Jesus who gave His all for us on the cross, taking the guilt of our sin on Him and then rose victorious and would lead us as our Good Shepherd. 

One of the reasons we have added devotions and special Wednesday worship opportunities during Lent in addition to Sunday morning worship is to aid us in our contemplation of our Lord’s amazing love for us and our desire to grow in our relationship with Him, increasing our dedication and appreciation of the wonder of having an Almighty God who has a personal interest in us and offers us His peace and protection as He guides us through this life to the mansion He’s prepared for us in the Father’s house. Does that mean a change in routine and an extra worship service added to the calendar which may mean subtracting something else? Perhaps. Is this an obligation? No. But Lent is an opportunity to thankfully run again to our Lord and bask in the shelter of the Almighty as we hear and prayerfully contemplate His Word.