Psalm 119:153-160

Scripture:
Look on my affliction and deliver me, 
      for I do not forget your law. 
Plead my cause and redeem me; 
      give me life according to your promise! 
Salvation is far from the wicked, 
      for they do not seek your statutes. 
Great is your mercy, O LORD; 
      give me life according to your rules. 
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, 
      but I do not swerve from your testimonies. 
I look at the faithless with disgust, 
      because they do not keep your commands. 
Consider how I love your precepts! 
      Give me life according to your steadfast love. 
The sum of your word is truth, 
      and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.  -Psalm 119:153-160, ESV

White-Winged Dove on icy branch-Feb. 2014

Observation:
-God is the one who can deliver us.
-God is our redeemer.
-God is the lifegiver.
-God is merciful.
-God's love is steadfast.
-God is righteous.
-God is present and active in our lives.

Application:
What a striking contrast between those who seek God and those who do not.  Unlike the psalmist however, I am filled with sadness when I look upon the faithless rather than disgust.  Just look at what they are missing out on.  

Last week we attended a funeral that filled me with sadness.  A life that is lived apart from the gospel has no hope nor security.  We cannot pray a person into heaven after they are gone, each person must make a decision for Christ before that day comes.  We cannot do it for them after the fact.  So as I sat in that little church with a group of people grieving the loss of a loved one my heart was breaking.  

I knew another person who thought if he just did everything-covered all his bases;in a wide variety of belief systems;  one of them might secure him a place in heaven; if heaven did indeed exist.  

God has made it clear in His word that the only way for us to secure our place in His heavenly kingdom is to let go of all our striving to do it our way, and accept the wonderful gift of His grace.  This righteous God demands holiness, but He does not leave us without a way to be holy; to be acceptable in His sight.  That way is Jesus and only Jesus.  The psalmist, while he did not have a complete understanding, knew that our only hope is in the LORD.  The LORD is our redeemer.  He is our salvation.  His mercy and love have made a way for us to be right with Him that is not dependent on us.  None of us will ever be "good enough," that is why God sent His beloved Son.  Jesus died in our place- He took upon Himself all of our sin and guilt.  In Jesus death and resurrection the price was paid once and for all.  Nothing more can be done, because nothing more needs to be done.  Our actions will never get us into heaven-but faith in Christ and what He has accomplished in our place will.

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb