Psalm 51:2 - Finding forgiveness

Wash away all my iniquity
     and cleanse me from my sin.

We all sin. We all make mistakes and do things we regret. Without God, there is really nothing to do with that sin other than forgive yourself and move on...but the offense is still there. True forgiveness has not taken place. We still bear the guilt of the sin. With God we can receive true forgiveness. There may still be earthly consequences for our actions, but we are purified in the eyes of the Lord,

Lord, thank you for the forgiveness you offer us. Please help us to seek your purification. Amen.

Exodus 29:20 - Ears, thumbs and big toes

Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar.

I thought this was a strange verse. Aaron and his sons are being consecrated as priests. There are sacrifices and lots of blood, including blood on their ears, thumbs and big toes. But just like so many things in Exodus, this is foreshadowing Christ. Christ's blood consecrates us and allows us to come into the presence of God. (Hebrews 9:11-14)

Lord, thank you for the blood of your son which washes away our sins. Please help us to live pure and holy lives. Amen,

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Psalms 51:10 - Renewal

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

At work the other day, my co-worker and I lead church services for our senior residents. Because the New Year is almost upon us, I read several scriptures discussing renewal and being new. I plan to share them over the next several days.

At the new year, it is a perfect time to renew our commitment to God and ask him to clean out our heart and "renew a steadfast spirit" in each of us.

Lord, thank you for being there for us year after year. Please create in us a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within each of us. Amen.

Zephaniah 3:9

Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

This verse in Zephaniah goes along with the lesson I am teaching on the majesty of God. In order to call him Lord, we must be purified. We must be holy because he is holy. When we have become a child of God we are part of his royal court, serving shoulder to shoulder. Not only do we have the right to call on Him, we are royalty as well.

Lord, thank you for bringing me into your royal court and for allowing me to call on your name. Amen.