Out of the Muck

“Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love.…”
Psalm 69:14-19 (NIV UK)

Eddie Fogarty was driving his bulldozer through a peat field in Ireland when his life changed forever. Without meaning to his tractor had unearthed an old leather-bound book. Eddie leaped into the muck and started calling for help, realising that this was an incredible find.

But what had he found?

When the experts finished their examination, they concluded the book was actually a 1,200-year-old Psalter, and it’s one of the rarest examples ever found to date. For many years, academics assumed the Irish had Christian texts dating far in the past. Now they had proof!

When I first heard this story I was struck with a sense of irony. One of my favourite Psalms of all time is Psalm 40 verse 2. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2).

This book of Psalms containing this passage about being lifted out of the muck was found buried in a grimy peat bog. And it was a miracle that the elements hadn’t destroyed this ancient text. But there is a similar irony in Christ’s involvement with us that leads truly to unexpected, even miraculous, results in our lives.

Christ, our King of Kings, is willing to get his hands dirty with our messes. There’s nothing too dark in our lives that he cannot work through or redeem. He’s not afraid of digging through the muck to meet us where we are. That’s why he came to us—to find and perfect his beloved. There’s really nothing too difficult, too hopeless or too complicated for Jesus. When we call out for help, he is faithful to answer and ready to join us in our struggle and strong enough to lift us out of the pit. He has come to undo what evil has done and bring us back into communion with our Father as his cleansed, renewed and one day even glorious children.

Prayer
Holy Father, please accept our reverence and worship because you are who you are, so much superior in every way from us—and yet you care for us without reserve. Thank you for the hope you give us. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen

Study by Joseph Tkach

____________________________________________________

About the Author:
Joseph Tkach is the President of Grace Communion International (the Denominational name of The Worldwide Church of God UK), and resides in California, USA. You are welcome to attend one of our local Church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland.  For details of your nearest local congregation, check on our website, www.wcg.org.uk under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.

Contact:
Email:  admin@daybyday.org.uk