Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 26:1-8
Ps 26:1-8
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. 4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; 5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, 7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. 8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.
2 Tim 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
What a wonderful thing it is to approach the end of one’s life, and instead of fear, to be filled with anticipation and joy. There is a sense in which none of us wants to leave our loved ones or the things we know here on earth. But there is nothing that bolsters my faith much more than being with someone who is facing the end of their physical life and to see and hear them speak with joy about what is to come. With John the apostle, they pray: “come quickly Lord Jesus.”
This assurance is not because they have been perfect or feel they deserve to go and live with the Lord. It is because they have put their trust in Jesus and his great sacrifice on their behalf. They have shown their faith in their commitment to obedience of his word, in their love for mankind, in accepting his forgiveness and by being forgiving toward others who have done them wrong.
We know that we are not saved by our own works. We understand that we do not and cannot deserve any favors from God. But because he has saved us by his grace, we seek to be like him and to do his will in all things. God forbid that we should ever use his grace as a license to continue in sin or as an excuse to put our will ahead of his. We are created in Christ Jesus to do his good works.
O Lord my God, what a wonderful pleasure it is to be able to serve you. I thank you that the more I serve you the more I realize the joy that you provide. When I fail and do things that are wrong, I feel the pain of conscience you have given me and the conviction of your Spirit within me. Thank you for guarding me from sin and continually moving me toward you. Please don’t ever let me think that I am righteous because of my own doing and thus become proud of my own efforts but only by your grace and forgiveness. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
