Pastor Ethan Boese
Security In Our Savior
Psalm 121:8 – The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
I will level with you here. In June my brother was married, and I had the privilege of leading the service. Psalm 121 was one of the readings he had selected. As I drove home from the wedding, I was listening to NPR. The host was interviewing an author who wrote a book discussing why the “traditional” views of men and women were 1. Popular among Gen Z, and 2. Toxic for our world, and it is good that we are slowly going away from them. Yikes. I then found a Roman Catholic Radio station (which I didn’t realize at first) that was talking about President Trump and his actions as Iran and Israel duke it out with each other. After this “comforting discussion” the host then turned to talk about the domestic terrorist threats we could face on American soil. Then it happened. I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw my three-year-old sleeping peacefully.
When my wife and I finally go to our eternal home, what kind of world will my children have? How will they do as they get older, as they continue to face threats that will assault their little faiths and shake their physical safety? Let’s back up. How are we going to do it? I can’t scroll through three Netflix shows without one of them talking about some tremendous tragedy. My eyes cannot scan the shelves of the religious section at Barnes and Noble without catching some
ridiculous author making some ridiculous claim that the Bible says or supports something that God’s Word in reality clearly does not. I can’t even listen to NPR without getting stressed.
“The Lord will watch over you coming and going both now and forever.” A simple sentence with simple words that have a profound meaning. The Father who formed you. The Savior who redeemed you upon the cross as he shed his own blood. The Holy Spirit who
planted faith in your heart, and from the day of your baptism has continued to cause that faith to grow as you hear God’s Word. Our Triune God promises to watch over you. Our God promises to protect you. Our God promises to never leave you. And if sin, death, and Satan could not thwart God’s plans; I highly, highly doubt that domestic terrorism or a society that rejoices in sin would be capable.
Despite the stressful topics, there my three-year-old was sleeping peacefully. Despite the stresses and fears, we as children of God also can rest peacefully on the chest of our God. After all he has promised, “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever.” Amen.
Lord’s blessings as you celebrate the birth of our nation!
Pastor Boese
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
On each non-communion Sunday, Pastor Boese will invite children of all ages forward for the Children’s Message before the Hymn of the Day. Parents with young children may join them as they desire.
