In His Arms of Love

February 20

Deuteronomy 33:27 gives believers a glorious assurance of the over-arching watch care of the Lord upon His people. It says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you…” Refuge—place of shelter. Underneath—holding you up. The arms of the Almighty will not let you fall.

In II Samuel 22:31 the prophet says in the behalf of the Holy One, “As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is flawless; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” Flawless—without spot or wrinkle. Shield—covering from the arrows of the enemy who comes to destroy the person of faith.

Will believers ever need a place of refuge? Will believers ever require strong arms to hold them up because they stumble? Will people of faith in Christ sometimes be flawed in faith, weak, defenseless? These verses suggest that they will. Otherwise, why would a shield be needed? Why would a place of refuge be sought from the arrows of adversity of the evil one?

The hope of the Christian lies not in his immunity to the trials of life but in his Lord who will shelter him from the ravages of them. Jesus said in John 16:33, “…In Me you shall have peace; in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” Why did He speak these things? So when the trials come, we will be secure; be at peace in His arms of love.