Skip to main content

Devotional for April 20, 2020

Sanctuary

 "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary." (Psalm 96:6 NIV)

 For the past few weeks, many churches have had to cancel in-person worship services, and switch entirely to online worship, as the congregation I serve has done. Some have held parking lot services, where people are still able to maintain appropriate distance. However, it is still not the same, because we are not able to enter the sanctuaries of our church buildings. While we have been able to worship at home, it is still something unfamiliar, because we have not been able to worship together in our sanctuaries. In certain places, because of recently-extended Stay-At-Home directives, it seems as though this situation will continue for a longer period.

 And yet, we are also reminded of a powerful truth: God is everywhere. He is not confined to one building. We worship in churches to have one focal point where we can gather together to have a safe and consistent place to worship God together, but God does not reside only in one place. He created the whole world, so He lives everywhere. Wherever we are, especially wherever we gather to worship Him, whether at home, or outside, or in a parking lot, God is still there. God's glory and power are also everywhere and accessible to us at any time, rather than in one particular place at one particular time. Because Jesus died and rose again, He removed the separation we had previously had from God because of sin, meaning we have access to God's power and help at all times. God keeps us safe and protects us - which is partly what the term "sanctuary" means - everywhere we are. He is even protecting us from danger as we venture out to go shopping, go to our places of employment, wherever we go.

 As the weather continues to change, we are also reminded that God's majesty exists in all parts of nature. Whether in a church building, or out in a forest, God's glory is present. God's glory is even reflected in the simple budding of trees, blooming of flowers, birth of new creatures, sunlight, and rain. God's dwelling place - another meaning of the word "sanctuary" - is everywhere, because He is everywhere, in the smallest and largest parts of creation. This also means that God lives in us, and that we are His sanctuary. More about that tomorrow.

 Dear God, thank you that you are everywhere, and you keep me safe and close to you everywhere I am.  In Jesus' Name' Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devotional for March 28, 2020

Still Connected "These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God, under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy  and praise among the festive throng." (Psalm 42:4 NIV) One of the hardest adjustments many of us have had to make has been our churches closing. Worship services have stopped for at least the last couple of weeks all over the country, and this has affected both small and large churches. It has been hard having to stay home, seemingly disconnected from our friends and support at our churches, and having our worship routines seemingly disrupted. Yet the good news is that God is with us, any time, any where. He is not confined to one location, building, time of day, or day of the week. He is with us at every moment, and does not take a break from watching over us, because He is all-powerful. He is almighty and all-seeing, so He is able to be everywhere at once, and handle everything for every per...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional for May 7, 2020

Pray at All Times "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV) Today, and every day, we need prayer more than ever. Though there is talk of re-opening various state economies, even lifting restrictions on stay-at-home orders, progress continues to move slowly. While the increasing number of positive coronavirus results may simply indicate more testing, the coronavirus is still not going away. Our schools, and many other businesses, remain closed, and their future schedules and logistics remain uncertain. We need to turn to God in prayer for His help and deliverance more than ever today. There are many who are also on the front lines both of fighting the coronavirus, as well as those who continue to work even despite potential continued exposure to the coronavirus, who bravely and courageously continue to serve and even help heal and co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Devotional for March 29, 2020

Still In His Good Hands "The earth is the  Lord ’s,  and everything in it,  the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1 NIV) A certain insurance company frequently asks in its ads, "Are you in good hands?" And frequently we may wonder, with the pandemic seeming to worsen and not even reaching its predicted peak, whether we are in good hands, or whether events are doomed to spiral out of control.  The answer to that question can simply be found in a  popular gospel and camp song, which goes, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Our passage today gives us the promise that all the earth still belongs to God, and remains under His control. He created the earth - but He then did not, as some would imagine, step back and simply watch everything unfold, as a machine. Nor did He simply set natural processes in place, but remains distant and uninvolved Himself. Instead, He continues to remain actively and intimately involved. So much so that He ...
Post a Comment
Read more