by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Protected

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Maybe it’s too easy, but I find myself taking pictures of signs thinking to myself, “That sign would make a great Praying With The Eyes devotion.” Then I get home, look at the sign and say, “That sign is like every other sign, but since I took the picture I might as well write a devotion about it.”

This is NOT a devotion about the sign as much as it is about the fence. For a moment, don’t look at the sign and think about the fence. We basically build fences to protect us from danger.

“Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 17:8 New English Translation

King David was not writing about fences, but the role of a fence is reflected in this verse.

We build fences to protect us. David prayed that God would protect him as he protects the pupil of his eye. Granted, God’s eye doesn’t need protecting like ours, however, we get the visual. Our prayer is that God would protect us on this life’s journey, that he would defend us from things that harm us spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

His word is our fence of protection

Though the fence should be enough to remind us that God is the One who protects us, sometimes we need signs to remind us. It should be obvious by the presence of this fence that danger lurks on the other side. However, many times when we see a fence like this one, we want to climb over it into the danger.

This sign on the Oregon coast reminds us that danger conceals itself on the other side of the fence. God’s word is our protection and there is trouble that exits when we tread on the other side of the fence. The other side of the fence is where Jesus lived on our behalf and face the dangers of sin, death, and the devil, forgiving us and dying for us to the dangers of hell.

Father, protect me and hide me so that I might live in peace in your presence. Amen

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado