Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the Lord is perfect. It revives the soul. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy. It gives wisdom to the inexperienced. The precepts of the Lord are right. They give joy to the heart. The commandment of the Lord is bright. It gives light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure. It stands forever. The just decrees of the Lord are truth. They are altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold, even better than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the honeycomb. Yes, by them, your servant is warned. In keeping them, there is great reward.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your law is perfect for me, and through your law, you point out how I daily sin against you. I must confess, I fall short every minute, and my gift, of being with you, should be removed from me as far as the east is from the west. I see my sin; because of your law, on my own, I have a tragic fear, I am afraid of you. I cannot look at you. Lord, what do I do? Your law revives my soul by demonstrating I cannot keep the demands of perfection in your law. For those who have just come to faith, it provides an understanding of you and how they should live. By keeping your law, our love is demonstrated by loving you and others more than ourselves. Your ways are right, Lord. They bring truth to our lives; those who want to change your commands are not abiding by them; they remain in the dark. Your law is the light in the darkness that illuminates the way and prepares us for our Savior. Father, your requirement is just and unchanging, so it is reliable for me; no one can use the excuse that parts of your law do not pertain to them today. Your decrees are righteous, and in keeping it, there is a great reward to be with you in heaven. Your law shows us our sins, and then we can come before you and lay them all at the cross.
I can do nothing on my own! It is because of Christ through Christ; I now receive my great reward. He lived the perfect life, keeping all of your laws with perfection, then he credited me his perfection. If that was not enough, he went to the cross in my place and died for every single stinking sin I have committed or will commit. Through Jesus, my great reward was restored at Golgotha. Your law is honey on my lips; you restored me with the sweetness of the law that shows my need for a Savior. Thank you, my Heavenly Father, for the SOS of your law (Shows Our Sin, the gospel Shows Our Savior). We now have confidence in and through your Son. Amen.
Roger Emmons
Pastor
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
www.graceredmond.com
Never believe a person who says there is no such thing as absolute truth. God and his law are the truth!