14 day plan

Safe Shelter

Day 4 of 14

NIV

Psalms 91:2-3

2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

Reflection: My rescuer

“As for me, I say with Christ Jesus: Father, you are my powerful protection. And it’s gospel truth: He has overcome the world. He’ll snatch you from the snare of the Evil One and sin’s deadly swamp.” (Author’s paraphrase of Psalm 91:2-3, through New Testament eyes)

Who doesn’t love a good rescue story. Search and rescue at sea, on the ski slopes, in caves; hospital emergencies; hostages… I for one, binge on suspense, and I bawl at the heroism and relief.

You know, if ever there were a rescue story/collection of, I posit, hundreds of stories, it’s the one we feed on each day.

It begins with a deadly pall, a literally lost-world—lost in sin’s watery storms, the tempter’s slippery slopes, shame’s dark corners; hostage to demons and disease. In essence, all these point to one big search and rescue. And just so you have no doubt who the long-expected, ultimate rescuer is, when he’s born a messenger from God says, “Name him Jesus [meaning rescuer; saviour; God saves] for he will save his people from their sins.” (see Matthew 1:21)

So used to this epic rescue are we…that our emotions aren’t often caught up in it.

But the Gospel of John records an intimate moment that might stir your emotions today. It’s rescue crunch time (wind buffeting, helicopter propellers thundering, parachute pack and night vision goggles chafing…). Our hero knows he’s about to agonize and surrender his life on this mission. Zero hour…and the cameras zoom in on his lips. Not surprisingly he’s praying. But astonishingly, he’s praying for you and me: “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. …My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:9,15)

Prayer:

Attend to this timeless prayer, Heavenly Father, and protect your treasured people from all that threatens our faith and trust in you. Christ Jesus, I’m rehearsing your staggering sacrifice that salvaged me from a sin-sick world. Holy Spirit, let me deeply grasp and be moved by the selfless love in those agonizing hours. Father, Son and Spirit, finish your saving work in all creation…and bring us safely to our final rest.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

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Psalms 91:1-16

Psalm 91

1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

4He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

9If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”

and you make the Most High your dwelling,

10no harm will overtake you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

11For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

16With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.