by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Trusting in the Power of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

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

“He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.”
Psalm 147:10-11 New Living Translation

The person writing this psalm had a different experience with horses than I’ve had. I’ve spent a week riding horseback in Montana, spent time with wild horses in Wyoming, and petted them in a relative’s horse barn.

Horses were symbolic of more than a luxury animal at the time that this psalm was written. Horses were used by the Babylonians to help conquer Israel.

Either the writer had heard stories or experienced for himself the raw power of horses in battle. Maybe he even saw fellow Israelites killed by soldiers on horseback. These animals were feared and respected.

What’s your horse? In what do you trust to see you through the struggles of life? Is it the power of technology to make your life better? Is it the power new of scientific breakthroughs that deal with a rampant virus?

What do you put your trust in to save the day?

What ever your horse is, God is not impressed by it. He is impressed by the person who fully trusts in his power, who relies upon him, and worships him. He is impressed by the person who waits for his unfailing love rather than running to the strength of something else.

This is the God who is more powerful than our weak attempts at saving ourselves. Jesus’ death has conquered sin and his resurrection has overpowered our death.

It’s time for us to lay aside those things to which we run for our salvation and cling to the One is more powerful than our horses.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado