Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 130:1-8
Ps 130:1-8
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. 7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Rom 3:21-25
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Look again at these words from our Psalm. Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. The great universal need of all mankind is the forgiveness of our sin, full redemption before God. It is found only in Jesus. Paul defines sin as any time we “fall short of the glory of God.” This means that any time we fail to live up to the absolute perfection and holiness of God, we have sinned. No wonder it says that all have sinned.
The absolution of sin is not a light or easy thing for God because the wages of sin is death. That is, eternal separation from God because our fellowship with him, our union with him is broken by our sin. But there was one who lived that had no sin in his life and he freely gave that perfect life in the place of our sinful life so we can be made right with God and live with him in eternity. This is grace.
While this sacrifice is freely offered to all, it must be accepted by faith. Not just a mere acknowledgement of the existence of God or even the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, but a total trust in God that compels our response of obedience to him. This is a response on our part out of love for God and a desire to do all we can to live for him, according to his will. Jesus is our Savior and our Lord.
Heavenly Father I come to you with thanksgiving for another wonderful day and all of the joy it will bring to me. Give me wisdom to use every moment of this day to honor you and to bring glory to your name. Help me know when to keep my mouth shut and when to speak. Let my speech be seasoned with grace and show your love to those who hear. Give your peace to those who have lost their loved ones and are filled with grief. Be merciful to our nation and guide our leaders so we can live quiet and peaceful lives. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
