S -"Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. … for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness." Psalm 26:1,3 NIV
O - Religion teaches that an unfaltering and blameless life is based on one’s performance; obedient, not sinning, living. Clearly this was not the experience of the author of this Psalm. In fact, David has some very huge failures all along the way of his 40 year reign. Yet, even at his worst and monumental failures he ultimately turned to and trusted in the Lord. What made him the "man after God’s heart" was not a faultless performance but a relentless confidence in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.
A - This is the exact coaching Jesus gives to Peter and the other ambassadors. His response to their looming failure of abandonment and public denial was "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Have confidence in God and have confidence in me." Blameless living is confident reliance on him, on his relentless love and defiant mercy at my worst and at my best. Yes to blameless living!
P - Lord God Almighty,
Thank you for loving us first, most and for refusing to change your mind - even when we give you reasons to. Each day I want to trust and not falter … to be always mindful of your unfailing love and to rely on you and your faithfulness. I want to inspire and encourage this blameless living in all you bring my way.
Loving you back,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment