"We Went Through Fire and Water; But You Brought Us Out"

"You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment." (Psalm 66:12)

I was in the middle of working on today's devotional, when an e-mail arrived telling of a 16 year old who committed suicide.  His grandparents are involved in prison ministry.  My heart sank, and just sat here, uttering some kind of prayer.  I know the depths of weakness, fear, helplessness at the loss of a son. 

Many think of the story of Job at such a time.  He lost all of his children, his business, his possessions.  His "friends" came and the best thing they did was, "sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great."  But as religious people are want, they began to philosophize with Job as to why such tragedy had come upon him.  Chambers comments, "Job replies, 'I am facing things you have not begun to dream about; why don't you either plunge into the deeps with me, or else keep silent....'  A religious view which causes a man to deal only with the shallow side has the ban of finality about it."  Our "religious view" does not just deal with "the shallow side" of life, though many have such an anemic religion.  History and the testimonies of millions who follow Jesus Christ attest to the unequaled power of the Living Triune God to bring, "us out to rich fulfillment."

I did not change our text when I read of the sad news.  The Word of God speaks so deeply of His great power on behalf of His people, that even when, "men ride over our heads," even when we go, "through fire and through water," Jesus Christ, the Rock of our Salvation, has power to bring, "us out to rich fulfillment," literally, a place of "saturation."  The deepest sorrows of humanity can never go to the depths of the Love of the Blessed Trinity revealed solely in Jesus Christ, nor His grace, nor His mercy.  Try this today from The Message:  "He pushed us to our very limit, road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; Finally he brought us to this well-watered place."  I bear witness.
    
Father, in Jesus' Name, do for the family as You did, have done, and continue to do for me.  Thank You, Amen.
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*     New Update From Jerusalem Watch:          www.apfjw.blogspot.com

When an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2