Numbering My Days

Tag: salvation

  • Psalm 119:161-168

    Abundant peace belongs to those
    who love your instruction;
    nothing makes them stumble.

    Here is part of the secret that unlocks the power of Romans 6:19 (just having read that verse: just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.)

    There is peace, spiritual peace, that results from developing the habitual, disciplined practice of dwelling in God’s instruction – His Word. A peace that brings stability and security. “Nothing makes them stumble. . . ”

    That peace comes as I love the Word, replacing my love for sin with the love for spending time in the Word, in prayer, in worship, in God-honoring activity. In doing so I put to death the habits of sin. I don’t leave room for them in my life.

    In this way I discover the peace God offers in this saved life. I’m not saved by these actions, but I come to be at peace with God as I love Him and His Word.

    Abundant life.

    Lots of work to be done – but this is the beginning of an image for Psalm 121 – to come later in the week.

  • Psalm 119:153-160

    Consider how I love your precepts;
    LORD, give me life according to
    your faithful love.

    I have previously observed this truth: Life- eternal life – is always given us according to His faithful love.

    A part of me wants to be lovable. To have earned even a speck of the joy and reward that the Lord grants His children. For if I earned it, I would be proud! “See what I did!”

    But there is nothing I have done, do today, or will ever do that earns even the shadow cast by His long-suffering, perfect, faithful love. My eternal reward is a gift from Him, according to His faithful love.

    Thank you, Lord, for your faithful love that provided Jesus Christ who died for me, that I might receive your gift of grace.

    Amen.

  • Psalm 119:81-88

    I long for your salvation;
    I put my hope in your word.

    Lord, your salvation is the desire of my heart.

    It is:

    • Eternal security
    • Meaningful life now
    • Abundant life, filled with your joy, Your goodness
    • Provision for today and hope for tomorrow
    • Relationship with you, Creator, Sustainer of life
    • Rescue from the sin that besets me – pulls me under

    In your Word I find hope for the salvation you offer and provide.

    In your Word there is

    • forgiveness
    • peace
    • joy
    • a sure foundation for the life I long for

    Lord, save me, by the power of the Gospel through Jesus Christ my Lord.

  • Psalm 118

    It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in humanity.
    . . . than to trust in nobles . . .
    The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.

    Here are competing philosophies – competing ideas for how to invest my life, to find security, to trust for the future.

    In humanity: Take refuge in the innate goodness of all men. Common. Here’s the problem, we know by Scripture, by observation, and by experience: men are not innately good. We are full of sin.

    In nobles: Trust the government – especially those political leaders who will provide and care for you. Don’t make me laugh! The worst of the worst. A vain pursuit filled with evil people.

    Instead: Trust in the rejected cornerstone. This is Jesus Christ. I choose to build my life on the foundation He provides. The cornerstone of Truth. The Way to eternal life. Supported and buit up as part of His people.

    Praise the Lord!

    This illustration (for Psalm 119:35) has been frustrating. It started here – I’ll share several different versions during the week of where this illustration went before it ended where it did.

  • Psalm 110

    This is the declaration of the LORD
    to my LORD:
    “Sit at my right hand . . . “
    “You are a priest forever
    according to the pattern
    of Melchizedek.”

    This is the triumphant and righteous Christ – ruling and leading His people.

    The victorious King, sitting at the Lord’s right hand. Victorious.

    And, serving His people as priest, not a priest bound by the Law, but a priest like Melchizedek. A priest who is right before God, who represents God to His people and the people to God. One with direct access through His sacrifice – His life, victorious on the cross.

    We rejoice, celebrate, honor this King the Priest. We know this is Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, ruling, reigning for us.

    Lord, be our King,

    Our Priest.

    Save us by your compassionate love – in Christ!

  • Psalm 109

    Help me, LORD my God;
    save me according to
    your faithful love
    so that they may know that this is
    your hand
    and that you, LORD have done it.

    This Psalm reveals David’s heart, at its rawest, to us. Sorta hard to read and understand. David calls on God to absolutely crush, destroy, wipe out, and curse the wicked one who has accused him and treated him poorly.

    But, as David turns to ask God also for blessing on his own life, he does so with the humility that recognizes an important truth: salvation from God is “according to His faithful love.” God saves us, not because of our righteousness or anything that is due us.

    God saves us out of His faithful love toward us. Salvation is ours only by grace through the mercy of a God who loves us.

    Lord, may my prayers, my attitude be like David’s in that moment. Save me according to your faithfulness.

    Praise the Lord!

  • Psalm 106

    Save us, LORD our God,
    and gather us from the nations,
    so that we may give thanks
    to your holy name
    and rejoice in your praise.

    Save us, Lord!

    From what?

    From ourselves.

    We turn from God to worship what is worthless even when you, Lord, have proven yourself a faithful redeemer and savior.

    • Rescued us from Egypt – yet we rebel.
    • Sustained us in the desert – still we turn to sour rejection of your goodness.
    • Lord, though you provide, we worship the worthless. Become vile in our own actions, adopting the customs and rebellions of people known for their distance from you.

    Lord, save us again!

    From ourselves.

    In your lovingkindness, compassion, mercy – remember us, your children. Grant us your mercy that we may rest in you.

    Blessed be the Lord.

    A dawn sky – I love the morning sky; so hard to capture.

  • Psalm 94

    LORD, how long will the wicked –
    how long will the wicked celebrate?

    There is, and will be, a season in which the “wicked celebrate.” Injustice will be the normal course of business and government. Innocents will be harmed. Those who are vulnerable, killed, murdered by those in power.

    And those who look on with horror will wonder: how long?

    Doesn’t God see this? Will He not do something?

    “The Lord knows . . . “(v. 11). He isn’t missing what is happening, He will execute His righteous judgment.

    That is little consolation for people who are harmed by the wicked today. But, there is a place of refuge.

    The Lord is my refuge.

    My God is the rock of my protection.

    What we see today, experience in this life, is temporary and ultimately inconsequential.

    The Lord reigns.

    He rules.

    He will vindicate.

    Come, Lord Jesus!

  • Psalm 93

    LORD, your testimonies
    are completely reliable;
    holiness adorns your house
    for all the days to come.

    Who knows what is true anymore?

    Sometimes I can’t – shouldn’t – believe my own eyes and ears.

    AI and the evil imaginations and machinations of men (people) make what is visible and what is aural irrelevant and unbelievable.

    But God’s testimonies are reliable.

    His Word , His acts, His movement through this world – that is what I can – will – trust.

    Why?

    Because He is Holy and His presence, His residence is Holy. It is completely unique. There is nothing like it and it cannot be imitated or duplicated.

    Lord, you are Holy.

    Your Word is Holy.

    Your acts and your presence are Holy.

    Praise God! In your holiness: redeem us!

  • Psalm 89:38-52

    How long, Lord?
    Will you hide forever?
    Will your anger keep burning
    with fire?

    This Psalm, that began with such confident declarations of faith, now turns – and in the pain and destruction of judgment, the Psalmist asks a question that has often been on my heart and lips.

    How long, Lord?

    I get it. You are leveling us with your judgment, your power.

    You have removed safeguards and blessings.

    You are allowing us to suffer the consequences of sin – and rightly so.

    There’s no reason for you to have compassion, to extend your faithful love.

    But Lord, I know you. You care about me – us.

    You love us.

    You hear.

    You see our repentant lives.

    How long will your judgment last?

    We need your rescue, your power, your redemption, your forgiveness. We know know that all comes only from you as a blessing and as an undeserved gift.

    We need you, Lord!

    Your are our only hope.

    Lord, save!