January 6, 2013
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 15
OBSERVATIONS
One of the struggles we face as Christians is how we balance God’s will (to be blameless, righteous, to speak the truth, to not wrong our neighbour, to keep our word, to help the poor and reject bribes) and God’s mercy (forgiveness for our failure and inability to obey God’s will). What is the relationship between being saved and being good?
David is right when he says that holy living is necessary to experience fellowship with God. Jesus reaffirms this on many occasions, highlighting the heart of the Law (love for God and neighbour, mercy not sacrifice) and commanding everyone to obey Him in this. But is this our hope, our ability to obey God and Jesus? If so, then it is hopeless.
The good news is that Jesus Christ has taken care of our failure by death; He has set us free from sin and death and hell by His resurrection; and He has restored God’s Spirit to help us live new lives by His ascension. We are forgiven, we are set free, we are restored to full life in the Spirit… therefore we are able to aim for perfection. We do good because we are saved. And we increasingly succeed in being good, because He is helping us.
This is all that God looks for: a humble heart willing to admit their sin and failure, trusting in Him for mercy, and striving with all His energy to be blameless, righteous, etc. He loves to be in fellowship with people like this.
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
I am not perfect, I have subtle and not-so-subtle sin my life. I am more selfish than selfless, I am more proud than humble, I do not love as I ought to. I cannot deny it, nor should I. But here is my hope, God has taken care of my shame, my guilt, He has broken the chains of sin in my life, He has given me His all-powerful Spirit to help me change the direction of my life. I have everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4), therefore I make every effort (with His help) to be blameless, righteous, honest, generous, etc. (2 Peter 1:5-9).
I can have fellowship with God, and live increasingly in a way that pleases Him, because of His mercy and help. The only question is, am I “making every effort” as Peter says? How hard am I trying to live this year with Jesus?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, You have arranged for everything to make this Psalm real for me. With Your mercy, with Your help, I am able to aim for “these things” with the assurance that I “will never be shaken!”