Lord,
Thank you for a new day. I’m reminded of Your truth that “joy comes with the morning.” It’s easy for me to take each day for granted and to not see that even waking up is an extension of your grace. Since Your Word tells me that “in [Christ] all things hold together,” there’s not a breath I could take without You upholding all things. When I dwell on these truths, it really shows me how independent and self-centered I live my life. Since You uphold all things and “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things,” my life should reflect a daily dependency on You. I confess that in not turning to You always, it’s as if I am saying “no, I don’t need Your help with this God. I got it. Let me be lord.” It’s pretty ridiculous now that I think about it. Thank You that Your grace is more than sufficient. That my most vilest thoughts and deeds (both bad and good) are covered by the blood of the Lamb. That Your right hand always upholds me. Now that I see Your mercy and love, help me to live a life that is Christ-centered, not Scott-centered. Denying myself and taking up my cross is impossible on my own, so I ask for Your Spirit’s strength and guidance. Give me opportunities today to be selfless.
Psalm 58 shows me the depravity of man, and particularly my own self. The psalmist writes how “from the womb” the wicked are estranged. Elsewhere we see that man is conceived in sin. Yet our darkened minds suppress that truth and the knowledge of You. We default to self-righteousness and think we can relate to You by doing religious things or being good people. Lord, I see myself allowing my performance to dictate how I am feeling that day. “Be gone Satan!” It is Christ’s performance imputed to me that earns Your love for me. You smile upon me because of Christ’s finished work on the cross. On this side of the cross I am still able to fall into legalism. Jesus, turn my heart to the Gospel throughout the day. Don’t let me be fooled.
Jesus it is amazing just how You have the ability to captivate people. I look back in my life and see the times where I’ve just been in awe of You, and I’m grateful. But familiarity breeds contempt, and this amazement doesn’t hit me everyday. Is it my fascination with the ways of the world? My apathy towards knowing You? My pursuit of religion instead of just knowing and receiving You? These people that you healed in Matthew took You for who You are. They saw or heard of the work You had done, and they believed. I want to live a life that reflects the transformation You’ve brought about in me. Anytime someone is excited about something, the first thing they want to do is tell someone else about it. The same is true with knowing You. Lord, I want me soul to be happy in You so that it overflows into a life of obedience, love, and fruit-bearing, grace-motivated work. You say that “it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” Oh to be like You! May it be so today.
Thank You Jesus for the grace which sustains me, the love which upholds me, and the hope which spurs me on.
Amen.
