Evening, February 13
<< Evening, February 13 >>
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
        my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
        and my place of safety.
        I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
        and he saved me from my enemies.
Insight
God's protection of his people is limitless and can take many forms. David characterized God's care with five military symbols. God is like (1) a rock that can't be moved by any who would harm us, (2) a fortress or place of safety where the enemy can't follow, (3) a shield that comes between us and harm, (4) a horn of salvation--a symbol of might and power, and (5) a stronghold high above our enemies.
Challenge
If you need protection, look to God.
Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation.

Come, my soul, think thou of this. Believing in Jesus, thou art actually and effectually cleared from guilt; thou art led out of thy prison. Thou art no more in fetters as a bond-slave; thou art delivered now from the bondage of the law; thou art freed from sin, and canst walk at large as a freeman; thy Saviour's blood has procured thy full discharge. Thou hast a right now to approach thy Father's throne. No flames of vengeance are there to scare thee now; no fiery sword; justice cannot smite the innocent. Thy disabilities are taken away: thou wast once unable to see thy Father's face: thou canst see it now. Thou couldst not speak with him: but now thou hast access with boldness. Once there was a fear of hell upon thee; but thou hast no fear of it now, for how can there be punishment for the guiltless? He who believeth is not condemned, and cannot be punished. And more than all, the privileges thou mightst have enjoyed, if thou hadst never sinned, are thine now that thou art justified. All the blessings which thou wouldst have had if thou hadst kept the law, and more, are thine, because Christ has kept it for thee. All the love and the acceptance which perfect obedience could have obtained of God, belong to thee, because Christ was perfectly obedient on thy behalf, and hath imputed all his merits to thy account, that thou mightst be exceeding rich through him, who for thy sake became exceeding poor. Oh! how great the debt of love and gratitude thou owest to thy Saviour!

"A debtor to mercy alone,

Of covenant mercy I sing;

Nor fear with thy righteousness on,

My person and offerings to bring:

The terrors of law and of God,

With me can have nothing to do;

My Saviour's obedience and blood

Hide all my transgressions from view."


Psalm 119:50  This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.

1 Corinthians 15:45  So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

John 5:26  "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

John 11:25,26  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, • and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

John 1:4,12,13  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. • But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, • who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 6:63  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ? 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

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