The Joy of Confessing our Sins Before the Lord

Today's Reading:

• Psalm 32:1 - 11
  
• Psalm 33:1 - 11

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Psalm 32:1 - 33:11
Here we are promised that joy awaits those who confess their sins to the Lord.  We are told not to hide our sins away, for they will simply eat us alive and zap all our strength and energy.  All of that changes, however, when we seek and receive the forgiveness of the Lord.


Have you ever done another person wrong?  Let's say you truly apologize to that person and vow to never do it again.  The person says that they forgive you, but you can tell they have not forgiven and are still holding a grudge.

Now let's think about that same scenario.  In this scenario, you confess to that person that what you have done is wrong, and you are truly sorry, and you will earnestly strive to never do such a thing again.  In this scenario, the person says they forgive you -- and they mean it.  You can tell that they sincerely have forgiven you.  How great does that make you feel?  Doesn't it release a burden from your heart, knowing that you have been truly forgiven?

The love of the Lord, the forgiveness of the Lord, is like that second scenario.  When we ask for the Lord's forgiveness with a true heart, He readily gives it to us.  He truly and unequivocally gives us complete forgiveness for the wrong we have done. 

Why would we want to hold on to our sins instead of releasing them to the Lord?  I know that I can hold on simply because I feel ashamed, or because I'm not ready to admit I was wrong and make an honest attempt to change that part of my life.  But I tell you, when I do let it go, the feeling is incredible.  So whatever you are holding onto, let it go!  There is true joy in releasing these burdens we are holding to the Lord.

The Betrayal of Jesus Christ

Today's Reading:

• Matthew 26:14 - 46
• Psalm 31:19 - 24

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Matthew 26:14 - 46
The reading starts today with Judas asking the priests how much they would pay him to betray Jesus.  The reply was 30 pieces of silver, such a sad sum for betraying our Lord.

Next we read about the passover.  Here Jesus told the disciples that one of them will betray him, and that it would be better if that man had never been born (23:24).  Each of the disciples asked if would be them, but when Judas asked, Jesus affirmed it would be him. 

I wonder what took place after that?  How incredulous would everyone be when Jesus told Judas it would be him that betrayed him?  Did they force Judas to leave the passover meal?  Did he just sit there, eating, as if nothing had happened? 

Jesus said it would be better if that man had never been born -- what punishment is Judas suffering, probably even to this very day?  Maybe the rest of the gospels will shed more light.  The reading ends as Jesus is about to be betrayed. 

Psalm 31:19 - 24
Here we are told to put our trust into the Lord, for those who trust in the Lord are sheltered and protected by them.  Even when it seems that all is lost, when it seems that Lord has forgotten you, He has not.  Trust the Lord, love the Lord, obey the Lord -- and He will be with you always.

Is Salvation Enough, or Do We Also Need Good Works?; Letting the Lord Shine Through

Today's Reading:

• Matthew 25:31 - 26:13
• Psalm 31:9 - 18

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Matthew 25:31 - 26:13
Jesus told the story of the sheep and the goats.  He says that when he returns the people will gather together like sheep and goats.  Jesus will act as a shepherd and separate the two, seating the sheep on the right and the goats on the left. 

The sheep were the ones that fed the hungry, helped those in sickness, visited those in prison, and welcomed strangers into their homes.  Jesus says that those who do those things for his brothers and sisters are doing those things for Jesus himself. 

The goats were the ones who did not do those things.  The sheep were to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and the goats were sentenced to be cast into the eternal fire.

The thing I take away from this is that we must both be saved and do good works to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  I do not believe that there is any way that our good works can save us without the blood of Jesus.

What I think is that those who are saved are truly transformed and as a result they begin to live their lives differently.  With the love of Jesus in our hearts, how can we not have compassion for others?  How can we not help those in need?  How can we walk past a person who needs help and just ignore them? 

Jesus is in us and he truly transforms us and the way we interpret the world.  That feeling swallows us when we are first called to be saved but it doesn't always last.  We need to constantly evaluate ourselves to determine if we are letting Jesus shine through us, or are we shutting Him back -- little by little -- until He disappears from us entirely? 

Psalm 31:9 - 18
This is a continuation of David's plea to the Lord to protect him.  I found verse 8:10 to be particularly interesting:

I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.  Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.

Here we are told that not only does sin create a chasm between us and the Lord, it zaps our livelihood.  It shortness our lives.  It creates sadness.  On this earth, in this life, we will know constant sorrow, grief, pain, anger, and be wronged.  That is a condition of the sin of mankind. 

But we can control what we do to our own bodies.  We don't have to further add to our own sorrows by continuing to sin.  Of course we are going to sin, we are painfully human.  But we can control ourselves and try to live righteously.  We can control what we do onto ourselves.

Ready Yourself for the Return of Jesus, Multiply Your Blessings

Today's Reading:

• Matthew 25:1 - 30
• Psalm 31: 1-8

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Matthew 25:1 - 30
Two parables are told in this reading of Matthew.  The first is the Parable of Ten Bridesmaids.  All ten bridesmaids went together to meet their bridegroom but they didn't know precisely when he would show. 

Half of the bridesmaids brought extra oil in their lamps in case it was needed and the other half did not.  While half of the bridesmaids ran out of oil and left to find more, the bridegroom showed up. It was midnight. The five that were ready were taken with the bridegroom to the wedding feast while the other five were locked out.

It's not hard to see how this parable relates to the second coming of Christ.  The moral of the story is that we must be prepared at all times.  We do not know when Christ will return, and when Christ does return we will not have the option of readying ourselves for him. 

The second parable is the Parable of the Three Servants.  A master left each of three servants in charge of a sum of money.  The first servant was given ten bags of silver, the second was given two and the third was given one. 

The first two servants each managed the money well and doubled it.  The third hid it away in the ground.  When the master returned he was proud of the first two and told them that because they had managed those amounts well, they would be given an abundance more.  But the third did not even earn interest with the master's money and therefore what he had would be taken from him and given to others who would do better with it.

I guess the moral of the story is not to waste the blessings of the Lord.  Whatever the Lord has given to you, take that and multiply it further.  The further you multiply the blessings of the Lord, the more blessings you will receive until you have an abundance of blessings.  It's a powerful promise.  Learn to recognize your blessings and to multiply them and they will be multiplied upon you.

Psalm 31: 1-8 
Here is another Psalm where David cries out to the Lord for protection.  The one thing that is true of all psalms like this that I have read before is that David never turns from the Lord.  No matter how great his suffering, no matter how many enemies at his doorstep, no matter what people manage to do to him, he never gives up hope in the Lord. 

I imagine that utter faith in the Lord no matter what is going on in their lives is something many people struggle with.  I know that many people turn away from the Lord when they have suffered a great loss.  These psalms of David are beautiful because he never does turn away from the Lord.  It's a shining example for all of us to follow.