The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 141:3-4,
The wonderful truth is that the Lord knows us and as a further expression of his love, mercy and kindness toward us, he comes to our aid. If we fail him we can take comfort in the words of John, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness…My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 1:9-2:2.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies."
In this psalm David expresses a concern I feel most believers experience at times. Having embraced the Lord in faith, experiencing his forgiveness, love and mercy, we struggle with the notion we will disappoint him from time to time. In this psalm David has his view on the Lord as his refuge and desires the confidence that he has the Lord's help during a time of need. He says, "But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge —do not give me over to death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety." Verses 8-10. Nonetheless, as David expresses his heart throughout the psalms, it is clear he desired to please the Lord in his thoughts and actions at all times and manifested terrific remorse when caught in sin.
The legitimacy of our concern in this regard arises from the fact that while in these bodies, we struggle with sin. I don't know about you, but while a believer I have disappointed the Lord, myself and others from time to time over the years. It is not my desire to do so and like David, I have experienced the remorse that comes from sin coupled with a desire and resolution to not find myself there again.
One of the many wonderful things I have found in the Lord is that he knows our weaknesses and provides for us in this arena of conflict on those occasions when we find ourselves in its grip. We can take assurance from the words of the writer of Hebrews, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin. 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." Hebrews 4:15-16.
The Lord has also provided us a special help at those difficult times, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. I have to admit there have been those times I have not availed myself of God's "way out", but it nevertheless was there for my advantage. Knowing it is there, being convinced it is there, and looking for it has been a tremendous benefit for me over the years for those many other occasions when I have availed myself of God's faithful help during those times of temptation.
Additionally, the Lord is faithful in our lives to bring us a level of maturity and strength relative to temptation. I am convinced none of us arrive till we are done with these bodies in this life, but while we remain, the Lord brings us a spiritual growth that aids us when tempted. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5. While "suffering" may indicate many things, as the chapter continues, Paul has the struggle with sin in mind.
Paul also goes on to say in Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." This is the thought Paul conveys as he considers "the Spirit helps us in our weakness", verse 26.
Believers have experienced the love and kindness of God. They are also indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As such it is a given that we will experience remorse when we fall into sin. As David, we will feel a need to pursue the Lord's help in our struggle with sin and seek him out to aid us.
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies."
In this psalm David expresses a concern I feel most believers experience at times. Having embraced the Lord in faith, experiencing his forgiveness, love and mercy, we struggle with the notion we will disappoint him from time to time. In this psalm David has his view on the Lord as his refuge and desires the confidence that he has the Lord's help during a time of need. He says, "But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge —do not give me over to death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety." Verses 8-10. Nonetheless, as David expresses his heart throughout the psalms, it is clear he desired to please the Lord in his thoughts and actions at all times and manifested terrific remorse when caught in sin.
The legitimacy of our concern in this regard arises from the fact that while in these bodies, we struggle with sin. I don't know about you, but while a believer I have disappointed the Lord, myself and others from time to time over the years. It is not my desire to do so and like David, I have experienced the remorse that comes from sin coupled with a desire and resolution to not find myself there again.
One of the many wonderful things I have found in the Lord is that he knows our weaknesses and provides for us in this arena of conflict on those occasions when we find ourselves in its grip. We can take assurance from the words of the writer of Hebrews, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin. 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." Hebrews 4:15-16.
The Lord has also provided us a special help at those difficult times, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. I have to admit there have been those times I have not availed myself of God's "way out", but it nevertheless was there for my advantage. Knowing it is there, being convinced it is there, and looking for it has been a tremendous benefit for me over the years for those many other occasions when I have availed myself of God's faithful help during those times of temptation.
Additionally, the Lord is faithful in our lives to bring us a level of maturity and strength relative to temptation. I am convinced none of us arrive till we are done with these bodies in this life, but while we remain, the Lord brings us a spiritual growth that aids us when tempted. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5. While "suffering" may indicate many things, as the chapter continues, Paul has the struggle with sin in mind.
Paul also goes on to say in Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." This is the thought Paul conveys as he considers "the Spirit helps us in our weakness", verse 26.
Believers have experienced the love and kindness of God. They are also indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As such it is a given that we will experience remorse when we fall into sin. As David, we will feel a need to pursue the Lord's help in our struggle with sin and seek him out to aid us.
The wonderful truth is that the Lord knows us and as a further expression of his love, mercy and kindness toward us, he comes to our aid. If we fail him we can take comfort in the words of John, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness…My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 1:9-2:2.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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