The Lord's Watchcare
Technology these days is truly amazing. While it can be used for good or bad purposes, it enables us to do things we never would have thought possible twenty years ago. The other day my mom was asking how Colson was doing. Colson is currently in New York on spring break with some friends. So using the iPhone location tracking function on my phone, I showed her how we can see where he is (or where his phone is) at any time and monitor his whereabouts from across the country. In addition, we can video FaceTime with him and see what he's doing and experiencing in real-time. These things came in handy last summer as well when Colson went to Rome. While some of these capabilities are not new to some of us, to my 88 year-old mom, it's all pretty astounding!
As parents, watching over our kids is one of our biggest responsibilities. It's probably also one of our biggest concerns. Isn't it? God has given them into our care. And so we want to have an idea of where they are, what they're doing, and how they're doing. Overall, Renae and I found these technology tools to be very helpful in watching over our kids as they grow and become more independent and active outside the house. Like anything though, balance is important because I know sometimes we can overdo it, tracking, monitoring, and reaching out to them too much and not giving them their space.
Psalm 121 speaks of the Lord's watchcare over His people. Like a good father, He vigilantly watches over His children. In fact, the phrase "watches over" is used by the psalmist five times in the chapter's seven verses. Sometimes we may feel all alone or that nobody cares about us; that nobody is watching over us or thinking about us when we step outside our house, when we drive down the road, when we're at school or work or even when we're at home by ourselves. But as God's children, that's not true! God watches over us. God is constantly watching over us, ready to help, ready to support, and ready to protect. God is near and present to you and me. He doesn't need tools, technology, cameras or phones to see where we are, what we're doing, and how we're doing. He sees and He cares.
Psalm 121 says:
"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
God bless,
Pastor Darren
