He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
On hot days, the pups love to take a ride in the car and stick their head out the sun roof or one of the windows. Their ears flop in the breeze and their tongues seem to reach the ground. Mallory likes to sit up front and stick her nose in the air conditioner vents. After enough sun, they will plop down in the shade of any tree in the vicinity to rest and cool off from their walk and car ride.
Shade is defined as the darkness created by a shadow. Some shadows seem scary. They cover the sun or the light in your life. When we are cast into darkness there can be the accompanying fear of the unknown. We can slip in the dark and be unable to see the direction we should travel. On the other hand, shade sounds refreshing. It cools you and provides a hiding place from the heat and the brightness of the sun.
The bible speaks of shadows in numerous verses. Psalm 36:7, “How precious is Your loving-kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” Isaiah 25:4 states, “For You have been a defense for the helpless. A defense for the needy in his distress. A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall.” God protects and covers us with his shadow.
The shadow of the cross has left an immense impression on the world. People are forced to have an opinion about Jesus even if they do not know what to believe. You cannot stay neutral when it comes to God’s son. Those who do not believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord spend a lot of time trying to prove to themselves and others that Jesus is not alive. Christians who believe in God and his word know the power of the cross. Galatians 6:14 tells us, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The cross stands as a reminder of the God who loves us. Who made a way for our sin to be paid that we might be restored to fellowship with our creator. He sent his only son to die on a cross for you and for me. As the old hymn says, the cross is a symbol of suffering and shame but our cross is empty. Jesus didn’t stay on that cross and he didn’t stay in that tomb. He arose and won the victory. The cross stands as a symbol of our freedom from sin, death, hell and the grave.
The shadow of the cross falls on each one of us. What we do with that darkness is for each of us to decide. Will the cross be an unknown, fearful shadow that holds us hostage or will God himself cover us with his shade; protecting us from anything and everything that comes against us?
Just Another Dog Devotion 