Psalm 145: 8-9, 14-21 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 145: 8-9, 14-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Verse 9The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
Verse 14The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
Verse 15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
Verse 16You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
Verse 17The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
Verse 18The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Verse 19He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
Verse 20The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Verse 21My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
Devotion
As I write these devotions for this week, the congregation I serve is still “social distancing” and worshiping from home over the internet. I miss seeing people and gathering together, but I know that the words of this psalm remain true today: “The Lord is near to all who call on him.”
Whether we are together or far apart, we are very lucky to live in such a time that we can still connect using the variety of technologies of our day: Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube, and so many other options. But God tells us we can call on God at any time from any place. We have always had this connection; it never goes away. It has no time limit, and it doesn’t depend on a stable Wi-Fi signal. God is with us throughout all our lives, in the good times and the tough times. Through normal experiences and during pandemics. God’s abundance never runs out.
Prayer
Holy God, thank you for your faithfulness to us. Thank you for having an open connection all day every day. Amen.