October 11, 2025 Devo

During a recent sermon, I showed an iconic picture that I love. It’s a picture of President Kennedy sitting at his desk in the Oval Office. It was called the Resolute Desk. It was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes, made from wood salvaged from an Arctic discovery vessel. It was beautiful and quite elegant. So here he was, the most powerful man in the world, sitting at this magnificent desk, signing papers that have national consequences. But this very stately scene has quite an endearing piece to it. President Kennedy’s son John Jr. can be seen underneath the desk, peering out through what he called his “secret door.”
John Jr. is the embodiment of cuteness and all things adorable about toddlers. He seems oblivious to the high nature of his surroundings. The Resolute Desk is nothing more than a hideout for him. He knows nothing of matters of state. He has no idea of the power his father wields or the breadth of his control. His father is Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. Millions of lives are impacted by his every decision. People call his father, “Sir,” and, “Mr. President.” But to John Jr., he is simply “Daddy.” It would seem, from the picture at least, that out of all of the duties of his high office, there is nothing more important to this President than his delightful son.
I thought of that picture when I read Psalm 104 today. It shouts of the High Nature of God’s rule. He is “robed with honor and majesty.” He is seated in the Highest Place and rules over all. EVERYTHING belongs to Him and only exists because of Him. His mighty power is absolute and without end. He is The King. Heaven is His Throne, and the Earth is His footstool. Yet, for all of His power and greatness, there is one thing that is His joy and delight. You.
You are the tiny imp beneath His Resolute Desk. You are the child who can’t even begin to imagine all that your Father is and can do. The angels bow around Him. The demons flee before Him. They call Him the Commander of the Heavenly Host. They call Him the Most High God. They all tremble at the sound of His name.
But not you. You get to jump up into His lap with the carelessness of a toddler. You get to play at His feet. Because while He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and Creator of all that is, He is something more than that to you. He is Abba, Father. You are His delight. You are His joy. You are His Beloved Child. Though He is very busy today running and ruling the Universe, He always has time for YOU. Because even though He’s King, He will always be a Father first. That’s God’s Word for you today.