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.

Godly examples of Bible study

RE Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day six) 
“Continue in what you have learned. . . because you know those from whom you learned it.” (2 Timothy 3:14)  One reason I believe the Bible is that God has given me godly examples of people who study and obey it.  Jesus is first on the list.  Reading the New Testament, it is hard not to notice how often Jesus reflects His own confidence in Scripture.  Quoting it in temptation, referring to it in conflict, the Lord’s testimony is clear.  Scripture is the reliable voice of the Father.  Add to the Lord’s example (as if it were necessary) that of my grandmother and the people who led me to Christ and the godly professors I encountered in college and seminary.  With one voice they all declared the same truth, “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable.” (2 Timothy 3:16) The people you respect–what do their lives teach you about the place that God’s word should have in your life?

The Best Gift

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day five) This Sunday we will celebrate the accomplishment of 30 High School Seniors.  We will encourage, we will cry, we will cheer, we will remember our own youth, and be reminded of our own mortality.  Perhaps the BEST thing we will do for these young men and women is give them a Bible from ALL of us at FBCSA.  It really signals the best things about this church:  our love for the Scripture and our hope (God will continue to grow His Kingdom now in a downtown church, and in future generations).  This gift really is from all of us since we have held each Bible and highlighted hundreds of verses that have given us hope, life, strength, peace, and joy from our collective experiences and wisdom.  And Sunday, we will pray that by these scriptures they will find the Lord and then the Life He has promised.  Psalm 71:18 “O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Be Adequate

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day four)  The Bereans examined the Scriptures.  They recognized the value.  Timothy had been taught from his childhood that the Scriptures gave wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  Notice that the Scriptures themselves did not bring salvation…it was faith which is in Christ Jesus.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that there is great benefit to the man of God who studies and lives by the scriptures, but it is Christ who saves.  Jesus said in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”  As a believer, we must invest our lives in the Scriptures…it is because of our relationship with Christ and the salvation He gives that we discipline ourselves for His service.  The Scriptures testify of Jesus!

Prone

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (Day Three)
“Do not let me stray from your commands.”  Songs don’t get much darker than this old hymn’s take on the fallen human condition: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.”  That song gets it, and the psalmist knew it to be true long before that: The spirit might be willing, but the flesh is weaker than we thought.  Sometimes, we’d rather sin than breathe.  Our weakened selves need the words of scripture to brace us, to allow us to stand and take faltering steps Christward.  Read, read.