"In death's dark vale I fear no ill with Thee, dear Lord, beside me, Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me.
"Thou spreadst a table in my sight; Thine unction grace bestoweth; And, oh, what transport of delight from Thy pure chalice floweth!"
Set free from slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel traveled through the unknown wilderness toward the Promised Land as "the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud ... and by night in a pillar of fire" (Exodus 13:21). The pillars of cloud and fire never left the people, allowing them to travel day and night. As we travel through this earthly life and finally through "death's dark vale," it is Jesus' cross that goes before us to guide us.
Where will this cross lead us? We know where the cross led Jesus. From His birth in Bethlehem to Good Friday, the cross was always before Him. The cross defined His purpose for coming to live among us. As the hour of His death drew near, Jesus said, "Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour" (John 12:27). When that hour came, our Lord suffered and died on that cross to save us. By His death Jesus destroyed the devil, who held the power of death, and set us free from sin and death. Now the cross, a sign of triumph, goes before us through life, through the unknown valley of death, and into the promised land of life in God's presence forever.
Where will this cross lead us? Our Savior carried His cross for us and He calls us, too, to take up the cross and follow Him. In Baptism we were crucified with Jesus and now we say with the apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). This life lived by faith is a life led by His cross. For those who do not believe, the cross is a stumbling block; to them it is foolishness. We know otherwise. For those who trust in Jesus, the word of the cross is the power of God to save. God's saving power set the people of Israel free and led them safely through the wilderness into the Promised Land. God's saving power in Christ Jesus has set us free from sin and, as we are led by the cross, He will bring us through this earthly life until we live in His eternal presence.
WE PRAY: Uphold me, Lord Jesus, as I take up the cross and follow in Your steps. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," which is number 709 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it so easy to forget that God wants to guide and direct our lives? How do we get in the way?
2. Has the cross of Christ led you to places you never would have imagined going?
3. How does following in the footsteps of Jesus actually simplify our lives?
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 19 Psalms 23 Psalms 59 Luke 21:1-19
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