I'm in a ramblin' mood this morning. Let's just cruise through Psalm 103, one of my favorites. I'm reading it in The Message version, which is not always the most poetic, but certainly lends new language perspectives. Grab your Bible!
Verse 1 - - - - bless the Lord, O my soul....
It is not our flesh that blesses the Lord, because our flesh is continually at war with the Holy Spirit who lives within each of us Christians. It is not our minds that bless Him, because our minds are easily corrupted by the lies of the Devil. Our souls, though, are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, God's "down payment" on our salvation.
Verse 2 - - - don't forget a single blessing...
Isn't it easy to focus on what is "wrong", instead of what is "right" in our lives? Every life occurrence is an opportunity to bless the Lord, to magnify His name, to advance His kingdom. We must view everything that comes our way in light of its eternal significance, instead of doing what we (I!) usually do, which is to focus on the temporary. (Come on now; can I get an "amen"?!)
Then, in verses 3-5, David lists some of God's blessings:
1. The first is the best one: He forgives every single one of our sins.
What a reason to bless the Lord!
2. He heals all our "diseases".
Sin is our first and worst disease. As for physical diseases, He acts in accordance with His master plan and our prayers. But, all of the Christian's physical diseases are healed when the soul leaves this mortal existence and steps into His presence. Bless!
3. He snatches us from the jaws of Hell.
The Message says He "redeems us", which means He purchases us with the blood of Jesus Christ, so that we are spared not only a hellish existence on earth, but more importantly, an eternity in that place of torment.
4. He satisfies our mouths with good things so that our youth is renewed like an eagle's.
Most of you know someone who has lived a life of chasing after things that don't satisfy --- "God substitutes". The idol, the thing that is pursued (in a sense "worshipped") may be alcohol, or sex or drugs or other addictions. But, they never satisfy. Furthermore, they age a person physically, often making them look "older than their years". The Holy Spirit, when allowed to rule and reign in our lives, instead satisfies us with God, "the real thing".
Ramblin' on down to verses 10-14 - - - oooooh, this is precious!
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs."
Hallelujah! This is God's mercy on display. Can you imagine, Christian, if we were dealt with FAIRLY by this just God? Even if He did punish us for each and every sin, His justice would not be satisfied. The only thing that could satisfy the justice of our holy God was the perfect, sinless sacrifice of His only Son. Jesus' beautiful words from the cross: "It is finished!"
He knows us inside and out. He made us and knows what we are made of. He has compassion on us and remembers that we are formed of the dust of the earth.
And then, AND THEN, He refuses to remember our sins against us anymore!
Not only does He forgive them, He forgets them.
As it says in verse 12 - - - "He has removed them as far as the east is from the west."
When we accept God's substitute for us, His Son, Jesus Christ, God completely obliterates the "owed" column on the balance sheet. Over in the "paid" column, He stamps "paid in full".
Forever.
In church yesterday our pastor was speaking with compassion of those religions who tell their adherents they must do this and do that, bring this many souls into the Kingdom, for instance, to earn their place in Heaven. The Bible is clear that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, that it is impossible to earn it, in fact. (Titus 3:5; Romans 10:3; Isaiah 64:6). We can be at peace and be confident in the assurance that Jesus Christ has "paid it all".
"Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow."
One of my favorite hymns...
See, I told you I was in a ramblin' mood. Beautiful Psalm 103! Let its promises seep into your soul this morning, Beloved!
Dear Lord, I'm thinking of that pop song, "Lord I was Born a Ramblin' Man" this morning. Some of the lyrics go "tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best that I can..." I know that my best was not good enough to satisfy Your holiness and Your justice. I'm grateful, though, that Jesus' finished work WAS and IS good enough, and that, consequently, I don't have to ramble through life, searching for peace. My peace is found in You, Lord Jesus! O my Father! Thank you for looking at me through rose-colored glasses, tinted red by the blood of Your precious, only Son. I cannot begin to understand why You did that for me. But, I thank You and bless Your name, Jesus' name, amen.
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