Monday August 9, 2021

Today’s Reading: Psalm 102

This will be written for a later generation, and a newly created people will praise the Lord:

Psalm 102:18

Reflection: In Jesus, the LORD God has heard and answered the cry of the destitute. God’s Word has told of His coming since the beginning. So that generations after himself would know and understand this, the psalmist recorded a promise that the LORD fulfilled through Christ, His only begotten Son. As God looked down upon the earth from His heavenly throne, He saw the pain and suffering of people enslaved to sin. He heard their groaning and their cry for help. Resolved to do His work as was foretold, Jesus, God the Son, forsook His throne in heaven and drew near to humanity to rescue them. And by His Death on the Cross, He did indeed save.

Such is God’s compassion, that He would show this degree of loving sacrifice in order for those condemned to die to live in freedom. Not only has He rescued Zion, but the LORD has chosen to rebuild it. He has appeared to His people and has begun something new, which was also foretold. Not only would the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be called His, but so would a newly created people, a later generation be welcomed into His fellowship. No longer would the line of David be considered God’s Family, but now, faith would decide who belonged to God. People from many nations would assemble to serve the LORD. The nations would fear His Name. All who believed would be set free to declare God’s praise in Jerusalem. Those who long to be counted as the LORD’s are indeed included in His written Book of Life. Praise God that when he looked upon earth, He did not have concern only for the line of Abraham, but also saw the surrounding nations, and chose to show mercy. Because of His compassion, we can all belong to Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before You because of Your grace to reveal Yourself to me. I declare Your praise because You have filled my eyes and my ears with testimony after testimony of Your incredible faithfulness. I am grateful to know You, LORD, to have heard Your truth and experienced Your goodness. I am blessed to share a relationship with You as Your child. Thank You for including me in Your Family, Father. I pray that You would help me invite others to know You as I know You. Help me to tell others around me of Your great love and compassion, and for their need for You. Thank You for all You’ve done for me, Father. I lift up this prayer to You in the Name of my Savior, Jesus, AMEN.

Bible-in-a-Year Reading Plan (credit: Bible, studytools.com): Revelation 7; Nehemiah 9:38-10:39; Psalm 102