Devotional 8/26/25

Psalm 91:1 ESV

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

The world we live in is always attempting to sell us safety. Home security systems, the new diet pill that adds 15 years to your life, or the new form of meditation that will relieve your stress and make you healthier. All of these things are attempting to fill a gap caused by sin. Sin caused us to feel the dangers of this life. Sin caused a separation of man and God and was fully realized the first time that Adam and Eve stared out at the world outside of the safety of the garden of Eden. As they viewed this new world, it is easy to imagine their fright: animals that had once been friendly now seemed menacing, no longer did the trees offer their fruits willingly, and soon Eve would experience the fear and pain of childbirth. The world is a scary place.

The good news of the gospel is that we once again can have union with God. Through Christ we can once again experience the shelter of God who loves us. Through Christ we can experience peace even as we look out at a world that seems frightful and menacing. Church, you who are in Christ, you experience the shelter of being in the shadow of the Almighty. Satan, Sin, and Death no longer have claim over you and now you live in the freeness of life under the wings of the almighty God. May we live in this peace and look out the frightful world, rolling up our sleeves to begin pruning it back into a garden.

For Christ and kingdom,

Sammie Hargrave

August 26, 2025

21st Week of Ordinary Time