Midweek Message - Finding the Light

Midweek Message – Finding the Light

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It’s written by someone who is facing difficult circumstances, but instead of being overwhelmed by his current crisis, he confidently turns to God as the source of his well-being and strength. He calls God his light and salvation which means that although the psalmist is undergoing some dark moment in his life, God will be the One who safely leads him through it. Instead of being fearful, the writer remains faithful; rather than being afraid, he is confident about his future.

Even though the psalm was written about three thousand years ago, it still offers us hope today. As we go through this uncertain time, we can look to God for guidance and confidence. Those ancient words are just as true now as they were way back then, so when we read or pray them, they become living promises for each of us, to strengthen and sustain us through this critical moment in history. This is what makes the Bible relevant in our daily lives and is why reading and reflecting on the scriptures remains meaningful. God’s Word helps us to rely on His support and be encouraged in our time of need.

So, today, dear friends, please embrace and share this thought: The Lord is our light and our salvation—whom shall we fear? The Lord is the stronghold of our lives—of whom shall we be afraid?

Point to ponder: What is really worrying me at this moment in time? Am I willing to trust God with my concerns?

Let us pray: Thank You, Lord, for preserving the ancient Hebrew psalms over the centuries. Though they were faithfully written long ago, they still speak to our present situation, offering us encouragement and hope. In Christ’s Name, we confidently pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Advent devotion - Never Give Up - Acts 27:20

Acts 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. (NIV)

            It must have been a terrifying experience for Paul and his companions. In those days, most small sailing vessels hugged the shoreline because they couldn’t navigate in the wide expanse of the sea. During daylight hours, this was quite safe, but at nighttime or in the midst of storms, all sorts of dangers could occur which normally ended with vessels being shipwrecked on the rocks of the land they were following.

            In today’s Biblical passage, (Acts 27:1-20) a storm which had been brewing for days, suddenly unleashes its fierce power which will eventually doom the vessel that Paul and his companions are sailing in. For most of the passengers and crew, faith gave way to fear and as Luke states in his narrative, ‘we finally gave up all hope of being saved.’

            Notice that Luke writes “all hope,’ not just some, but all of it which included their faith in God’s power to save them. Paul, however, did not let go of his hope and in the remainder of the chapter, his faith enables everyone on board the vessel to be saved.

            We all go through uncertain times and experience worrying issues which test our faith and stretch our reliance on God to its limit. If we have taken time to build up our faith and knowledge of God, we can find an inner strength to help us overcome our problems. However, if we neglect our faith and take it for granted, we may soon discover that we have very little hope to cling to.

            As we head into the season of Advent, let us try to strengthen our commitment to God through worship, Bible study, and prayer. None of us have any idea of what we may face in the future, so is it not a better idea to be fully prepared for whatever may come by building up our reliance on God with faith, hope, and love?

Point to ponder

What issues am I currently facing? How am I relying on God to help me through them?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know all that’s going on in our lives right now and fully understand the problems we are facing. Help us to turn to You for wisdom and strength, guidance and care to overcome. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s new Advent drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Advent 1.