Rev. Ray and Pat Amos

Psalm 118:13

DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 13, 2019

“You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.”

We do live in a pushy world. The psalmist felt shoved to the point of falling, but the Lord helped him. Who hasn’t felt pushed into a situation, decision, or conversation? Well-meaning Christians have tried to push people into a relationship with Christ; but it doesn’t work that way. Ours is to lift Christ up and He will draw them to the cross.

“Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.”

Jesus was thronged by a crowd that must have looked like a mob. They were pushing and shoving, but not touching. Then he suddenly asked, “Who touched me?” One person in the crowd touched our Lord. She wasn’t pushing, but reaching; not shoving but touching the very heart of God.

Even our worship can become more pushing and thronging the Lord than reaching and touching. People can even get pushed down instead of having their hearts lifted up unto the Lord. We push because our personal concern is the most important thing that matters; but we reach because we all need the Lord. “Draw nigh unto the Lord and He will draw close to you;” that is a promise.

We will all be blessed when our motive for living is what the Bible says, “The Love of Christ constraineth us.” In the beautiful language of KJV, this is my prayer: “Draw me, we will run after Thee…we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember thy Love…” (Song of Solomon 1:4)

Grace and Peace, Rev Ray

“Link to YouTube Video – I Am Thine, O Lord