Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day two)
Lean not in your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge him…Proverbs 3:5-6. Picture yourself leaning against a tree or a wall, something that is seemingly stationary. What position is your body in? Probably some angle to the ground other than a right angle. You are off-balance, right? Imagine if that tree or wall suddenly disappeared, what would happen? You would stumble for sure, and if you had all your weight pressed up against it, you would fall. It’s an interesting picture of faith. God gives us feet to stand, but when we trust our own strength or understanding we deviate, sin, decay. It is only when we get off-balance from our own thoughts and lean totally against the almighty that we can walk straight. Although the tree or wall may fall down, Jesus never will. Lean into that trust.
Category: Cross Training
No other way
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day one)
Strange cure for human sin. Not what we expected. Faith! God saves those who believe/trust Him. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name.’ (John 1:12) Unchanging truth. “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) “If you will not believe you will not last”, said Isaiah to stubborn king Ahaz. (Isaiah 7:9) This ego-shattering, control-surrendering commitment of trust is a hard thing for us to do. But, it is the only thing that can a make a man right with God again. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but should have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Did you trust Christ to save you? Do you trust Christ to save you? Will you trust Christ to save you? There is no other way.
True confession
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day seven)
“If we confess our sins. . .” Confession in the Bible is a more specific word than we normally think. Homologeo (the Greek word) means “to speak the same thing” Homo=same. Logos=word. So, confession is more than secret sins finally admitted. More, even, than sorrow or regret. True confession is an agreement reached between a holy God and a sinner. A shared perspective, a joint statement of purpose going forward. It is an agreement on sin and the damage done. Good question. Have I waited for God on the subject of my sin? Do I know what He feels, thinks about it? Both are true–sin separates us from God and separation from God is our sin. “Come, let us reason TOGETHER,” says the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”–Isaiah 1:18. Have you had this hard and helpful conversation with God? It is what the Bible calls true confession.
The GREATNESS of Thy compassion
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day six)
“According to the GREATNESS of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.” (v 1) When I feel guilty, my focus usually goes to the wrong place. All I see is my failure. All I feel is shame, a lonely separation from God. I fear the consequences to come. Recovery requires a new place to look. When David knelt to pray out his confession in Psalm 51, he focused on God’s character. Slowly, powerfully his vision cleared to see the GREATNESS (size) of God’s compassion. Ultimately, the only reason that sinners can be forgiven is that God wills it. Only the GREAT mercy of God, His eternal purpose that sinners be rescued and restored can assure our troubled hearts. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for us sins.”–1 John 4:10. This is our hope. Our only hope. God’s mercy is great!
Mercy
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day Five) When pondering the nature and character of God we take note of His Majesty, Wisdom, and Justice. In Psalm 51, David teaches us the sole basis of any approach to God by sinners is His Mercy. vs 1- “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions..”
Where does our understanding of God’s merciful nature come from? It comes from God Himself. Exodus 33:19 “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” Hebrews 4:16- “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
So maybe this week, as we read this passage, we can be reminded that what we need to know about God, is that He is merciful.
God’s mercy is also depicted as Unfailing Love and Great Compassion.
One further thought and reminder (thanks to James Boice), Unfailing Love points to the continuing operation of God’s Mercy, and Compassion teaches He does feel our infirmities.
A Contrite Heart
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day four) What kind of sacrifices do you offer the Lord? Church attendance…weekday bible study…special offering at Christmas…occasionally tell someone what church you go to…or even go on a mission trip? All of these are good things, but God does not delight in them if you heart is not right with Him. Verses 16-17 say, “For You do not delight in sacrifice otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” A broken and contrite heart is a heart that recognizes the vast glory and righteousness of God and their own sinful and hopeless state. When Moses recognized he was in the presence of God at the burning bush, he hid his face. Isaiah, when he saw the Lord, said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, “ God delights in humility rather than sacrifice!
Dustbin
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day Three)
“My sin is always before me.” There comes a point where “Forgive me for all my sins” won’t say what needs saying. Sin doesn’t get swept into the dustbin by broad pronouncements in which you say, basically, “Mistakes were made,” and then get on with it. Sometimes, sitting with the Lord and looking at your sin—talking about how much you desire it, telling what you have done in order to make room for it—these are the not-so-quiet times that clean your heart.
Restore
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day Two)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation Psalm 51:12. Look back at the words that pertain specifically to David’s sin: blot out, wash away, cleanse me. Such vivid imagery creates a landscape that we can all understand. This picture of a broken man, not a king, but a man caught in sin. We can relate. But what is astounding is not the picture created of David’s sin-nature, but the hope of restoration. All of these terms deal with a renewal. To be brought back to a former relationship. Sometimes when we have sinned we cannot imagine how we can be forgiven much less how we can be brought back to a right relationship with the Almighty. But hear David’s cry, once he has confessed his heart longs for the Joy of His Salvation. What a beautiful thought, to be made clean again with the same life and strength as that first time you prayed. Don’t let the weight of your sin cause you to buckle, His joy is still waiting for you. He is faithful, He is just and His burden is light.
We need to talk.
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day One)
“Have mercy on me, O God. . .For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, and you only have I sinned.” (Psalm 51:1, 3-4) We need to talk! Ever had a friend say this to you? Something hurtful has entered the relationship. Anger. Disagreement. Left unaddressed this tension will weaken the friendship and possibly destroy it. Only an honest, vulnerable conversation can deal with the disappointment and restore trust. Same with God. It is called confession. Not to priest, but to God Himself, by means of prayer. The subject? Sin. Hard? Yes. Embarrassing? Yes. Necessary? Yes. Psalm 51 may be the best know prayer of confession in the world. After his affair with Bathsheba, after he murders his friend to cover-up, David comes clean in a conversation with God. We all have much to learn from his example. Listen carefully, friend, you may hear the Lord say, “We need to talk.”
Wise for salvation, equipped for service
RE Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day seven)
“From infancy you have know the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. . .that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:15, 17) We are caught in a philosophical conflict. The world against the Spirit. Hugely important! Is there a God? Is He NECESSARY for life? Most of us tend toward philosophical humanism. The bias of the present age. Consequently, we believe that we are capable of making good decisions and free to do so (even when we fail) without fear of being criticized because we were “true to ourselves.” The scripture denies such SELFishness. It declares that a “word” from God is necessary. His word and wisdom, external to us and higher than us, is something we desperately need. Ego-shattering! Life-giving! Only through Holy Scripture can we have wisdom for salvation and equipment for God-planned good works.