The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (ESV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? (NLT)

Theme Intro:

As the beauty of summer takes full effect, we examine a piece of armor that is free for the taking of all who will receive salvation. We will reflect on the assurance, knowledge, exclusivity, and power of Salvation. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus alone, not because of anything that we have done. The Helmet of Salvation gleams as a beacon of hope and guards the mind against doubt and fear. We hope this month is an encouraging time of remaining in the knowledge of the greatest gift we’ve ever received from our good God!

Dive Deeper:

In the Midst of the Storm

Picture yourself on a small sailboat at sea, venturing off to a new land. Your journey is going well until you find yourself now lost, battling through a fierce storm in the night. The wind is roaring, and giant waves threaten to swallow you whole. Rain pours down, making it hard to see. Just when you feel like all hope is lost, a light shines through the darkness—a lighthouse on the distant shore. Its beam cuts through the cloudy haze, guiding you out of the chaos to the safety of the shore. You no longer feel defeated but determined; you steer towards the light, knowing it's your only hope in the midst of the raging sea.

Many of us feel directionless, just trying to make it out of the chaotic storm of our present circumstances and the current events in the world. To make matters worse, we spend hours of our day comparing ourselves to people who we perceive have found their calling and are living the lives that we think we want. The objects of security and desire that we put our trust in or aspire toward that aren’t God are really false lighthouses. They’re an illusion, and once when we think we are arriving at their shore, we realize there is nothing there. We must have just been seeing something. 

The Way Out

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33

Anywhere we go, that is not aligned toward God will fade away as this world does. But if our course is set to God’s purpose and will, our anxiety and directionlessness subsides. Our way out is the Way and the Light. The true Light gives us purpose and direction when lost. Jesus says that He Himself is light and that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness (John 8:12). Just as Jesus is our light, He is also our salvation. His saving power operates out of His nature of being light. Think back to the illustration. The beacon of the lighthouse not only gives direction but also saves the sailor from the perils of the sea because it has provided that direction and a way out of the storm and rough waters that threaten our lives. 

Stronghold of Replenishment

Once we arrive at the shore, we are made safe in the stronghold we find there. We are offered shelter from the storm and defense from our enemies in whatever form they take. Here, we find rest and refuge, being protected and built up. But we are not called to stay here forever. It is just a place to return to each time we begin to get off course, for the Lord is not only on the shore but is also with us on the ship. We are to go back out into the world, being in it and not of it, proclaiming the Good News of Christ and doing His good and perfect will. 

Written by Keaton Hewitt 

Challenge:

Reflect on where you seek security when you feel adrift. Are you trusting in fleeting things like wisdom, relationships, wealth, or experiences? Spend time finding refuge in God’s Word and ask Him to take back His rightful place at the helm of your life.