October 30, 2018 - “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)
Do you know the blessings of forgiveness this morning? Have you given yourself over to the Lord Jesus, submitting to his will for you, not to your own selfish wishes?
If not, then let me encourage you to step forth in humility and ask the Lord for forgiveness, say to him;
“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.” (Psalm 31:1-2)
Many would say; “I have prayed to the Lord for various things but he just doesn’t seem to hear me for my prayers are never answered. That may very well be true for the Bible says;
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.” (Psalm 34:15)
While the Lord God sees all and hears all, his ears are inclined to the righteous. He only listens to those who doubt, the non-believers, when they cry out to beg for forgiveness for their sinful ways.
But when the righteous cry out; “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)
I do not want to deceive you here, there are times when the righteous cry for help and their answer is silence for they have asked for something which the Lord does not wish them to have right now. There are times for all people when the answer is NO. but, when any child of God cries for help, God hears him and responds in the best possible way for that situation. One must trust in God in all things, that is faith.
Know this; “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of all of them.” (Psalm 34:19)
“The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6)
All people are born with the sin nature given us by Adam when he sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. Every one of us know, from birth, how to lie, to cheat, to steal; just watch a baby as he or she grows from birth, any time you ask; “did you do that” his reaction is to lie to keep out of trouble. That is the sin nature within all of us. That must be washed away if we are to live, to dwell, in the Lord and know his grace and mercy.
Only by the saving grace of the Lord Jesus are our afflictions of sin washed away for as the Lord says; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Only by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can one be washed free of the afflictions of sin and removed from the penalties of sin which is the death of the spirit, the second death.
“The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” (Psalm 34:22)
Come to him today, accept his saving grace and mercy and let his precious blood wash your sins away.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Come to him and accept him today so that you too can say; “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
Blessed be the name of the Lord. May his grace and mercy wash over you today…
