"Grace In The Midst Of Darkness"
April 11, 2009
Zechariah 12:10 -And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
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As I was sitting at my desk completing my homework assignment, my wife was flipping through the news stations to find the local weather predictions. Unfortunately, the meteorologist's forecast was bleak: rain and lots of it. The last thing the city needed was more rain. Waters were already at flood stage, and it did not look like they were going to crest for a few more days. This weather report was preceded by a story of a 15-year-old boy who lost a five-year battle with cancer. Before that the local anchorman announced the total number of U.S. men and women who had given their lives overseas. When events like these take place, we are left asking ourselves, "Where's the relief?"
When tough times are before us we can feel battered and worn, but we will never be completely broken. We travel through this Lenten season of repentance feeling the weight of our sin, the guilt of our actions, and the burden of living in a world stained by sin. Yet, we are still able to smile as we can see Easter on the horizon.
As God promised the Israelites through the prophet Zechariah, He promises to us now, "I will pour out... a Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy...." You and I are truly blessed to be a part of a community of believers in our churches. It is a blessing to be able to walk through that church door, enter the sanctuary, and be a part of "the house of David." The blessings we receive through the Word and Sacrament will continually flow down upon us as we face our daily trials and tribulations.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your almighty presence. As we repent of our sins, we know that You forgive us even now. Teach us to continually sing Your praises as we recall, enjoy, and look forward to the blessings that You will continue to pour on us. In Jesus' Name, we pray this. Amen.
Written by Pastor Jacob May
Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Hampton, Virginia
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