2020 Daily Devotion - Day 62

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Monday, May 25, 2020

When I was a graduate student at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Iowa preparing to be a pastor, I was in chapel one morning and heard a sermon I have never forgotten. Well, I don’t remember the entire sermon but the theme was such that it has stuck in my memory ever since.

At the time, there was a very popular movie out called Grease, starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta. In the middle of the movie, Olivia Newton John sings the song “Hopelessly Devoted to You”. During the chapel service, the preacher used this theme over and over again to describe God and His grace toward us. As a result, I have never forgotten it, and it always comes to mind when I hear the song being played.

By the world’s standard, many would say God should give up on us. But He doesn’t.  The world would say He is not hopelessly devoted to you. The world can’t understand it.  It doesn’t make any sense. But aren’t you glad He really is hopelessly devoted to you, and always will be? He proves it in Jesus Christ. This is what the Psalmist is saying:

Psalm 63:3
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we cannot understand Your faithfulness. By every measure, we know You should have abandoned us, and yet, You have not. You truly are “hopelessly devoted to us”.  Allow this tune and phrase to stick in our mind today as a constant reminder of Your love and faithfulness, which You have given to us through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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