Our Path to the Cross - 40 Days of Lenten Reflection | April 23
By Brad Corradi
Psalm: 95, 88, 27
Old Testament: Job 19:21-27a
Epistle: Hebrews 4:1-16
Recently, Erin and I walked down a winding, narrow path on the Olympic Penninsula in Washington. We both could hardly speak as we looked up at trees that towered forever into the sky and wondered how a place could be so amazing. If that wasn’t enough, we emerged from the trees onto a point that overlooked the Pacific Ocean with deep blue waves crashing against the cliffs below us. All that Erin could say was “Thank you, God.” I could not agree with her more. The beauty and strength, that was everywhere around us, forced me to praise God. Psalm 95 says “In His hands are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”
Creation, which is absolutely abundant in our surroundings, supports the idea that our God is worthy of our praise. I needed to be reminded to “kneel before” my maker. Taking it one more step, which I believe is the intent of this psalm, I can’t help but comment on God’s amazing grace. Even more incredible than the environment we live in is the salvation that God gives us through Jesus. We can sing a new song and praise our God for his love and grace to us. Just like wandering that peninsula reminded me of our Creator, the coming Easter is a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice. Take time to praise God for all that He has provided for us.
This psalm continues on with a reference to Moses and the Israelites as they approached the Promised Land. There is a warning to not “harden your hearts”. The Israelites saw the beauty of the land but also the threat of the people living there. Even though God had promised them this land they did not trust God. This week do not harden your heart but see what God has created for us, praise Him for his opportunity for salvation through Jesus and trust His guiding hand.
