Psalm 65: God the Provider

Today’s reading is Psalm 65.

Happy Thanksgiving! Are you convinced yet this is one of the best psalms we could be reading this week?

Why are we eating today? Because God has created a world that produces food for us. Because God gives the rain. Because God provides the bounty. The rain falls, the grain grows, the herds flourish because of God’s foreseeing care and guardianship.

In Deuteronomy 11:8-17, God provides Israel a promise and a warning. When they entered the Promised Land, He would no longer give them manna every day. However, though the manna ceased, He was no less the provider for them every day. He sent the rain watering the crops and allowing the herds to be fed. Israel would eat not because of their great work (though they did have to work the land). They would eat because of God’s provision.

The warning, of course, is if Israel forgot the source of their provision, He would stop. If they went after foreign gods, He would drive them off of His land into the land of those gods to see how Israel would fare. If they decided to dismiss God’s law, He would cease the rain and the provision. All of this explains why man doesn’t live by bread alone but by every word proceeding from God’s mouth.

God is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. He is the Creator, the Redeemer, and every day He is the Provider. Let us not forget it. Rather, let us be thankful.

For what do you thank God today?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 65.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 65 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Jesus, the Creator

Today’s reading is Hebrews 1.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”–Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”–John 1:1

The author of Hebrews carries on this line of thinking by claiming that through His Son, God created the world (Hebrews 1:2). Not only that, the Son upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). Stop there for just a moment. Exactly how much power do you think it takes to uphold the entire universe? The Son of God, Jesus Christ, has that much power in His word, His speech.

The author of Hebrews then quotes Psalm 102:25-27, once again quoting from the Septuagint, declaring, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands” (ESV). First, let’s acknowledge the shock that the inspired author of Hebrews declares this is spoke about the Son. No doubt, this is because of the connection and parallel of the teaching to what was said in Psalm 45:6-7 which refers to the King as God. However, second, let’s recognize this early Christian author calls Jesus not only Lord, but Creator.

Some today want to act like the teaching of Jesus grew over generations and centuries until a normal man took on legendary godlike qualities. That simply isn’t the case. In less than a generation, Jesus was considered God by His followers. Of course, if we take the gospel accounts at face value (which I do), this is unsurprising because Jesus declared and demonstrated Himself to be God repeatedly.

Recognizing this, can we be amazed for a moment at the nativity? Can we be amazed that the Creator of the universe entered the world as a baby, allowing Himself to be wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in an animal’s feeding trough? Can we be amazed that He grew up as a child, under the authority of human parents? Can we be amazed He submitted to the authority of human governments and counsels? Can we be amazed He allowed humans to reject Him, mock Him, belittle Him, question Him, persecute Him? Can we be amazed He allowed humans to crucify Him?

Yet, the Creator of the universe did all of that in order to make purification for our sins. Can we be amazed by that even more?

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 1.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Does it surprise you to think of the man Christ Jesus as the Creator of the universe? Why or why not?
3. If He is Creator, how should we react and relate to Jesus?
4. What does the author of Hebrews, quoting the psalms tell us about the Creator Jesus in relation to His creation in Hebrews 1:11-12?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Ministering Spirits

Today’s reading is Hebrews 1.

How cool is that? The angels are ministering spirits sent out to serve those of us who are inheriting salvation. I don’t know how they do that. I don’t know what they do. I just know they do. I can’t help but think about the time the angels ministered to Jesus following His temptation (Matthew 4:11) and when an angel strengthened Him in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). How can we not be victorious as disciple makers when the angels are on our side strengthening and ministering to us? Keep that in mind; God is directing His angels concerning you even today. Keep putting one foot in front of the other; you are not alone.

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 2.