Friday, September 4 2020 Devotional
Daniel answered and said: 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.'"
Daniel 2:20-21
These words speak great comfort to us today as we face all kinds of uncertainty in the world. We wonder who will be our next President and whether he will be a man who does good and establishes justice, or one who perverts justice and leads the country into moral darkness. We wonder how long the CoronaVirus pandemic will continue. Will our scientists be able to create a vaccine for this disease? How long will it take? How many more will die before that happens? And what else might happen meanwhile? Just a year ago the future seemed certain and things were humming along pretty well. Now nothing seems certain and we keep waiting for the next wave of bad news. But we who know this great secret of history have peace: God is truly in control. He is in charge of times and seasons, hurricanes, droughts, and pandemics. He sets up kings and rulers of this earth and He removes them at His will. He gives wisdom and knowledge to scientists when He sees fit to do so. And we who know Him through Christ have the assurance that He is our loving Heavenly Father. God is not a cruel and capricious despot nor an uninterested, distant “Force” that emanates from the universe. He’s our Father who has redeemed us through Christ, and He loves us and cares about the tiniest details of our lives. He will never leave us nor forsake us, even as He directs the great course of history. He hears our prayers and He watches over us as the most tender and loving father watches over each of his children. Come what may, we have this assurance, and so we face the future with peace. God is in control. Father, forgive us for losing sight of Your promises and listening instead to the fears of those who don’t know You. Thank You for hearing us when we cry out to You. Thank You for sending Your angels “to minister on behalf of us who are to inherit salvation.” Thank You for working all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Lord, we wait with confidence whatever You are about to bring to us, knowing it comes from Your loving hand. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles