Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, May 8, 2017
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 05.08.2017” on Spreaker.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:1–3).
Benevolent But Misunderstood God
God is good! God is beneficent! God is merciful! So, what’s the problem? Why would someone feel as though he or she cannot go to Him and be saved?
We’ve got it all twisted. Some take inventory of their lives and rightly recognize that they are sinners, but wrongly believe their is no hope for them. Or some believe that they will be saved once they tidy their lives and demonstrate their seriousness to God. What picture do we have of God that He’s only able to save certain kinds of sinners? How tiny an estimate we put on the power of the Father’s love and Christ’s sacrifice for us!
One Giant Too Many
As a man of broad character and responsibility, God selected David to lead His people. He stood as the ancient representative of the King of Kings, who would ascend David’s throne supernaturally, long after Zedekiah vacated it naturally. David often served as the measuring stick for righteousness as kings came to rule. This is why his great sin of killing Uriah, taking his wife to satisfy his lust, and seeking to cover his sin was so egregious in God’s sight. To whom much is given, much is required. David, the man who fearlessly and valiantly slew Goliath, was nearly slain by the giant of his own lust.
Here’s something David understood during another difficult time in his life that we must embrace if we ever hope to be saved: “…I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man” (2 Samuel 24:14).
Best Position Possible
David understood that when we have sinned, the safest place to be is in the hands of God. Yes, we must repent. We must confess. Yes, we must submit our hearts to God. And yes, He will abundantly pardon. We cannot make ourselves good enough to earn pardon. Nor, can we tidy our lives to become worthy of His love. We can, however, surrender our wills to the One who can make us holy.
Allow God to make you holy today. Take your sinful self to Him by the power of His Spirit and lay your all at His feet. Allow Him to give you a clean heart and a fresh start. Let Him write your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Go tell others how He can do the same for them. You cannot earn God’s love, so stop trying. It’s a gift to all who believe.
