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A Divine Pass

Read Psalm 25

Featured Verse: Psalm 25:7

”Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.”

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t remember the sins of your youth, the indiscretions of yesteryear? For that matter, aren’t you glad God doesn’t count your sins from yesterday against you? I sure am. And so was David.

David knew better than anyone the benefit of God’s gracious forgiveness. Perhaps no other person in history had his dirtiest, darkest laundry aired in public more than David did. Adulterer, conspirer, manipulator, cold-hearted you-know-what, murderer—that’s what David was! Yet David found in God something that you and I depend on for our very existence, something the non-believing world cannot grasp: Unconditional, unlimited, undeserving forgiveness.

Of all the Divine benefits David enjoyed in his life, forgiveness was right there at the top of the list. In that eloquent poetic listing of the blessings of belonging, Psalm 103, forgiveness was the very first one he mentioned:

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins…” (Psalm 103:1-3)

David went on to describe the scope of God’s forgiveness in verses 9-14:

“He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

How does God forgive? According to those verses, in grace and mercy God forgives all of our sins. He doesn’t give us what we deserve—punishment—and he gives us what we don’t deserve—forgiveness. How does he forgive us? Completely—as far as the east is from the west he removes the stain and guilt of our sin. Last time I looked, that was a long way away! How does God forgive us? Out of the compassion of a father’s heart—like a father overflowing with love for a wayward child.

Perhaps that’s why David could write so many beautiful songs about the goodness of God. He, more than anyone, understood the benefits and blessings of being forgiven.

Perhaps it would do you some good to stop and consider for a moment the benefits and blessings of the gracious, undeserving, unlimited forgiveness that God has extended to you. Maybe, like David, as you realize how much you have been covered by his grace and mercy, you too, will exclaim, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Psalm 32:1)

“Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, ‘I can clean that if you want.’ And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes our sin.”
 —Max Lucado

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An Issue Of Godship

Read Psalm 24

Featured Verse: Psalm 24:1

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

God owns it all—the entire earth and all it contains, including me. He has the right of rulership over it all, including my life. He determines the ways this world must operate, both physical laws as well as the moral code, and even the way I must live my life. I cannot approach him on my terms; I must bend to his terms. God doesn’t yield to me, I am to yield to him.

Why? He owns it all. The earth is the Lords, and everything in it—and that includes me!

The problem is, from the beginning of man’s history, mankind has tried to reverse the immutable laws that the unchanging God has eternally established. We have done our dead level best to create God in our image. We have usurped his rightful place. We live as if we were God.

That is what ails the world, isn’t it? It’s an issue of godship: Who is going to rule. Every sin, every war, every crime, every calamity, every sad story of a broken home, everything that has ever gone wrong can be traced back to the wrong choice in the decision of godship. We have consistently put ourselves on the throne in place of the One who rightfully owns it all.

And of course, what is true of humankind in general is true of our lives individually. Our biggest issue, bar none, is this business of godship: Who will sit as master and commander of our moment-by-moment lives?

Truly wise people have settled that issue once and for all. They understand that God owns it all, and they are simply managing what he has given them in a way that will bring honor to the Owner. When we get that right in the big and small, seen and unseen moments of life, everything else will fall into place.

“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘darkness’ on the wall of his cell.”
—C.S. Lewis

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That’s All I Want

Featured Verse: Psalm 23:1

“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want.”

I am not sure where this came from, but I suspect you will be blessed by it as I was.

The Lord is my Shepherd—That’s Relationship!

I shall not want—That’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures—That’s Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters—That’s Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul—That’s Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness—That’s Guidance!

For His name sake—That’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—That’s Testing!

I will fear no evil—That’s Protection!

For Thou art with me—That’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me—That’s Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies—That’s Hope!

Thou anointest my head with oil—That’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over—That’s Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—That’s Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord—That’s Security!

Forever—That’s Eternity!

And that about covers it all. The Lord is my shepherd, and that’s all I want!

“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart,
will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.”
—Martin Luther

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In God We Trust

Read Psalm 20

Featured Verse: Psalm 20:7

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

You would think by now we’d know how foolish it is to trust in anyone but the Lord for our safety and security. That is not to say that we shouldn’t lock our doors at night, put our money on deposit with the banks, expect our leaders to provide a strong national defense, think through long-term investment strategies that will help us in our retirement years, and so on.

There is nothing wrong with that! In fact, the Bible calls us “prudent” when we think in those terms. But our first and fundamental trust needs to be in the Lord. He is our source. He is our provider. He is our future. In fact, Deuteronomy 30:20 says that the Lord is our very life! And when our primary trust for that which will bring us peace, joy and comfort begins to drift back to human beings and man-made institutions, we are on the road to eventual disappointment. Just ask anyone who has lost a boatload of money in the sinking economy lately.

Here’s the deal: Be wise, work hard, and do the things that will provide for both short and long term safety and security, but make the primary and ongoing source of your well being God. Rather than trusting in chariots and horses, look at the coin in your pocket and do what it says: In God We Trust.

How can you do that? I think prayer is one of the best ways. Each and every single day, come before God and acknowledge your dependence on his provision. Before every meal, return thanks for his goodness. When you lay your head down on the pillow, review your day and ask yourself if you have honored God in everything you have thought, said and done. At every decision, ask him for guidance.

Make God the critical part of your moment-by-moment life, keep him as the senior partner in every decision, and once in a while, look at all the broken down chariots that litter life’s highway as a reminder that trusting in the name of the Lord is far better.

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Nature Speaks

Read Psalm 19

Featured Verse: Psalm 19:1-2

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.”

I love nature! There is nothing that speaks to my heart more clearly and compellingly of the majesty of Almighty God than the beauty and wonder of creation. Whether rafting the class five rapids of a pristine Rocky Mountain river, or watching the sun appear over an eastern wall of an Arizona canyon, or walking through the California redwoods, or gazing up at an African sky so clear and close it seems as though you could reach out and touch a star, time and again I’ve uttered these words:

“How could anyone who sees what I see not want to bow in worship to the Mighty One who created this?”

Creation, indeed, witnesses to mankind of the loving God. St Augustine wrote, “Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?”

Unfortunately, some people cannot see or hear God in what is plain. That’s because the god of this age has blinded their eyes. (II Corinthians 4:4) But that shouldn’t stop you from deepening your worship of the Creator by expanding your appreciation for his creation. Take a moment to absorb what St. Basil the Great wrote,

“I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator. …One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made. … The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, even our brothers, the animals, to whom Thou gavest the earth as their home in common with us. …We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of pain. May we realize that they live, not for us alone, but for themselves and for Thee and that they love the sweetness of life.”

Now if you can, take a walk sometime today, or if you get a clear sky tonight, go out and appreciate the beauty of what God has created. And tell him thanks!

“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe — the starry heavens above and the moral law within.”
—Immanuel Kant

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Standing On The Promises

Read Psalm 18

Featured Verse: Psalm 18:30

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

As you read the fairly lengthy Psalm 18, your eyes will likely be drawn to verse 30.  Initially it will seem that David’s words here are an abrupt, although delightful, departure from the rest of the psalm.  At first blush, it seems that David has taken a side-bar to attest to the inspiration and veracity of Scripture. Yet upon further review, this verse is in complete unity with the rest of the psalm, simply and succinctly verifying David’s testimony of God’s faithfulness to him.

The title of the song at first seems to suggest that David penned these words after a Divinely orchestrated deliverance from King Saul’s insane jealousy and murderous rage.  However, the internal evidence of the psalm indicates that this is really a retrospective on the faithfulness of God over the course of David’s life in fulfilling the promise to establish David as king over an everlasting dynasty in place of Saul.  (See II Samuel 7:8-16)

In looking back, David reflects that even though the road he has traveled to kingship has been rocky, to say the least, and at times, the success of his journey certainly hung in the balance, yet at the end of the day, at the end of each day, God had been faithful to David. God had kept him.  God had delivered him. God had exalted him.  And now, David offers this wonderful song of praise that recognizes the many qualities of God that has made him worthy of David’s praise.

Then we come to wonderful verse, verse 30, where David’s worship takes on an increased volume of heartfelt praise as he sings in effect, “Yes, the promises of God have proved to be true and trustworthy. Every word he has spoken over me has been flawlessly fulfilled.  I can count on his word; I can stand on his promises.  With God, I am on safe and secure ground.”

Of course, what David said of the words of God (see Psalm 12:6, 119:160) is also true of the Word of God. In the next psalm, Psalm 19:7-9, David proclaims,

  • The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
  • The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
  • The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
  • The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
  • The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
  • The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

Now here’s the deal:  What was true for David is true for you.  The Word of God is as true today as it was in David’s day.  And out of God’s Word, through your time of prayer and refection upon it, God will speak to you as he did David (remember, it will always be in line with his written Word), and give you a word specific to the circumstances you face.  And you can depend on God’s word in those times to be flawless as well. God’s promises to you are certain.

Are you standing on the promises of God?  Are you claiming his word?  Are you leaning into his Eternal Word?  David would say to you, “You can depend on God’s Word—and his word.  And of all people, I would know.”

“God is not silent.  It is the nature of God to speak.
The second person of the Holy Trinity is called ‘The Word.’”
—A.W. Tozer

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The Apple Of Your Daddy’s Eye

Read Psalm 17

Featured Verse: Psalm 17:8

“Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Did you know that God has favorites? The Bible tells us that he held the nation of Israel as the apple of his eye. Really—that’s what Deuteronomy 32:9-11 (see also Zechariah 2:7-9) says,

For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest
and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them aloft.

The good news is that God not only played favorites with Israel, he holds you as the apple of his eye, too. How so? Through Christ’s blood! You see, when you came to Christ, God took all the love he displayed for Israel, and for his Son, and he placed it on you. Now you are the one he loves.

A great writer by the name of Brennan Manning tells the story of an Irish priest who was on a walking tour of his rural parish one day. And there by the roadside he found an old man, a peasant, kneeling in prayer. The priest was quite impressed, so he walked over and interrupted the man: “You must be very close to God.”

The peasant looked up from his prayers, thought for a moment, smiled and said, “Yes, he’s very fond of me.”

This simple man had a simple faith that revealed a profound self-awareness of his true identity—he knew he was loved by God, and that was all that mattered! Manning developed his own personal declaration from that touching story. He would say of himself, “I am the one Jesus loves.”

It sounds a little arrogant, but he’s actually quoting Scripture. Jesus’ closest friend, John, identified himself in his Gospel as, “the one Jesus loved.” If you were to ask John about his fundamental identity in life, he wouldn’t reply, ‘I’m one of Jesus’ disciples—actually one of the three in his inner circle!” He wouldn’t say, “I’m one of the twelve apostles.” Nor would he identify himself as “the author of the Gospel that bears my name.” Rather, John would simply say, “I am the one Jesus loves.”

I hope that you, too, will take to saying that. More importantly, I pray that you will start believing it in your heart, because if, and when you truly grasp how great the Father’s love for you really is, it will change your entire life! Peter Kreeft insightfully wrote, “Sin comes from not realizing God’s love. Sin comes from thinking ourselves only as sinners, while overcoming sin comes from thinking ourselves as overcomers. We act our perceived identities.”

Friend, your identity is the one Jesus loves. Now start perceiving it. You are the apple of God’s eye—that is who you are. Your Father is watching over you at this moment with great delight.

Now go act like that’s true, because it is!

“Not only do we only know God through Jesus Christ, but we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ; we only know life and death through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ we cannot know the meaning of our life or our death, of God or of ourselves.”
—Blaise Pascal

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Tags: Apple of God’s eye, Identity in Christ, Psalm 17

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