Psalm 18:35 "Your right hand sustains me; You stoop down to make me great."

At two o'clock in the morning a little child is awakened by the discomfort of a high temperature and pleads: "Mommy, please hold me!" How comforting such holding is! the child is still ill, but wrapped in Mother's arms, healing, rest, and sleep come more easily.

All of us find ourselves at times in a night of pain and suffering, which leaves us feeling crushed and overwhelmed. Then we reach for the precious Word of our Lord and receive its assurances into our hearts. There comes the realization that we may join David in exclaiming: "Your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."

Each time the Holy Spirit revives our faith, we realize that we are being held, sustained by the mighty hand of our God. Each time, through Word and Sacrament, we are impressed with the glorious truth of the forgiveness of our sins for the sake of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that our Lord is stooping down to make us great. We have good reason for pleading with our Lord; "Please hold me!" As we are held in the forgiving arms of our Lord, we are encouraged to hold others by giving them the great word of forgiveness.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You are strong in grace and forgiveness. Please hold us in Your strength. Amen.

(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 8-9    Psalms 60    John 2

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