Day 4: God is the ruler yet
He has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things… (Luke 1:52-53).
Heavenly Father, the hymn writer reminds us, "That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet" (Maltbie D. Babcock - This is My Father's World).
Throughout the history of this broken world, humans have struggled with war, and oppression, injustice and evil. And even though for now we can only see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 3:12 - KJV), You have given us clear evidence of Your guiding hand, Your faithfulness, Your sovereignty, and Your perfect plan.
It was for this reason Mary praised You, even as she struggled to grasp the details of Your unfolding plan for the birth of Your Messiah. Understanding the fundamental truth proclaimed by the angel Gabriel, that "no word from God will ever fail," she offered her response in reverent submission: "I am the Lord’s servant. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:37-38).
You have promised us, O Lord, that no one who hopes in You will ever be put to shame (Psalm 25:3). So even as we are increasingly beset by the uncertainties, the difficulties and the blatant evils of this world, teach our souls to rest in the living hope of the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us to trust that Your unfailing word will reach its complete fulfilment when He returns to rule and reign:
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Teach us to pray in trust and reverent submission from the depths of our being: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." (Luke 1:47).
”The joy of God goes through the poverty of the manger and the agony of the cross; that is why it is invincible, irrefutable. It does not deny the anguish, when it is there, but finds God in the midst of it, in fact precisely there; it does not deny grave sin but finds forgiveness precisely in this way; it looks death straight in the eye, but it finds life precisely within it.”
Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote these words during Advent 1942. One year later, Advent found him in Berlin's Tegel military prison. He was eventually executed for his Nazi-Resistance activities.
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