WOV #790, "Praise to You, O God of Mercy"
Devotion
Praise to you, o God of mercy! Thanks be to you forever!
Raising high the weak and lowly; thanks be to you forever!
Strong is your faithfulness, strong is your love,
Remembering your covenant of life with us.
This image of God's faithfulness and love as strong - particularly when God raises the weak and lowly - is a great one for us. As we see Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem in this text - and as we hear James and John wishing to call down fire on a village - we are reminded that God's version of strength doesn't always look like human strength. It's not Schwarzenegger-like; it's not political power.
God's strength is in God's determination, in God's remembering of God's covenant with us. Jesus' strength and determination led him to the cross. Our strength in following will not always lead to easy places - we, too, are repeatedly led to the cross throughout our lifetimes.
It is in the body of Christ, lifted up for all, buried and resurrected, that we find the meaning of God's covenant with us and with all humanity. God's purpose in using the cross unfolds in the middle of our difficult and joyful experiences. And, God's faithfulness and love remain strong forever.
Prayer
Faithful, loving and strong God, be with our world and with us in it as we seek to proclaim and to live out your covenant of life. Remind us of the weak and lowly. Keep our lives centered on the cross. Amen.