Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 12-9-22

Intro: I am always blessed to see God’s family reach out when others around them are in need. This is reflective of a life led by the Spirit; the Lord will always respond compassionately when others are suffering in distress and lack. God cares about the wholeness of every person, not just the spiritual well-being. The Lord heals all our brokenness.

Many people think about peace as merely the absence of conflict. However, the biblical meaning of the word “shalom” is much, much more—it means universal flourishing or wholeness. Christ is the liberating King who connects us in the restoring wholeness or shalom of God—Jesus is our Prince of Peace.

Yesterday, we held onto our desire for peace as we reached for God our Helper. When our lives are built upon Christ’s love and Word, he promises to hold us in his care. This is such Good News, because the unredeemed world does not share God’s values, nor does it have a genuine love for people; it simply wants power. The government on Christ’s shoulders [under his authority] is governed completely different (Is 9:6). I pray for the kingdom of the world to become the kingdom of our Lord (Rev 11:15).

In our passage today, the psalmist continues to share how God cares for his children with a goal to restore wholeness. Believers desire spiritual wholeness first and foremost, because from that proper foundation we open the door for the shalom of God to come in and mend all that is broken and supply all that is lacking. As human beings, if we would just get our spiritual lives fixed upon Christ, we would be building a life that can withstand any kind of storm [and there are plenty of them circulating around us]. For believers, we have the opportunity to help people see their greatest need as making Jesus the Savior in their lives, because then they will see and know the Truth. Be Christ’s ambassador of peace, today.

Psalm 146:7-10 NLT

He gives justice to the oppressed
    and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.

    The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
    The Lord loves the godly.

The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
    He cares for the orphans and widows,
    but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
10 
The Lord will reign forever.
    He will be your God, O Jerusalem, [Zion] throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the justice in which you govern your kingdom. You provide a path toward restoration through your amazing shalom. Please continue to help us see the truth, lift our burdens, and feed our souls in Jesus’ name. Amen.