Tuesday, April 22, 2014
The Need For Change
We have a most amazing God. Clearly He does not need us to do what He wants to do for He is the all powerful Creator of the universe. But for some reason He has chosen to use men. For me, this is really something because, we are frail human beings. It is easy for us to allow things like emotion to get in the way of following after God and doing things His way. At least for me this is true. Like Paul, we want to do the right things but do not always do them, being human.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Yet God somehow in His infinite wisdom found a way to help us always correct the course we are traveling. David, one of the great people of the bible, found himself doing things he should not do. How did David respond? Like Paul, it saddened him. But he would cry out to God, often in song, to create a change in himself that he David struggled changing.
Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
David acknowledged his wrong doings. He asked God to forgive him his transgressions. This was before our Messiah had died for our sins on the cross, yet David knew that in God’s heart, God longs to help us be better. God is a forgiving God. David knew that if He cried out to God, confessed his sin, and asked for forgiveness, God would restore him. Not because of who we are, but because of who God is. That is enough to bring tears to the eyes.
Today, let us call out to God to help make us a better people because of who He is, and let Him use the change to cause people to seek after God and His ways.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the One True God, our King. We ask today that You forgive us our transgressions like You have done for David, and Paul, and countless others. Blot those out and don’t remember us that way. Create in us a clean heart and renew Your Spirit within us. Do not cast us from Your presence, but draw us closer and cleanse us by the blood of Your Son Jesus. Give us mercy and grace. Send us the deliverance, healing, and provision we need today, and let us show others Your ways that they might be moved to seek Your face. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.