If you have been redeemed, then you can rightly testify of the goodness of God in your life. 2Without a shadow of a doubt, your faith has increased because of the blood of Jesus. You may have been a viler sinner but the day you turned your life over to Christ, everything that was old has gone away. Even your desires were changed. Instead of needing the pleasures of this world to be happy, God’s love fills your life with great joy. This has happened to me and I rejoice. To those that love the Lord, He is very favorable unto them. Everyone that humbles themselves before God are redeemed. David testified of the great things that God does in our lives. 1“Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.” How do we escape God’s wrath? By submitting ourselves to Him. Like David did, we pray, 1“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.” We ask for His hand in our lives, with sincerity of heart. In this, He knows that we love Him and desire to follow in His ways.
Listen to how David came to the Lord for assistance, 1“I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints.” His belief that God would come and help him and his people was real. His prayers were heard in the heavens above. For It wasn’t just words that he spoke, but a heartfelt trust in God above. His hope in God, helped him develop a close relationship with Him. Because of his hope in the Lord, he knew of His grace. He said, 1“Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” What an awesome way to describe the mercies of God. Jesus hadn’t come yet to be the last sacrifice for sins but He has now. Because of the cross, we are set free. Nothing that ever held us captive before, has power over us now. The truth of God is in our lives and we celebrate. Surely God’s righteousness is enough to change our wicked hearts. If you have born again, then rejoice, for your sins are forgiven. He has cleansed you from all iniquity. There is no more wrath but only love. Because you have made a choice to follow Jesus, He is a shield for your life. Temptation is no longer difficult to resist for the Lord is with you.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for coming into my life and giving me a new heart. I was so defiant in my old ways but You have changed me. Instead of resisting to follow You, I only want to serve You. My desires have been flipped upside down because of Your great love for me. I know that You are my Savior. I also know that Your wrath is real. I felt this anger while I was in sin. I knew that I was not in good standing with You. After much confession of my sins, my thoughts have finally changed. Through repentance, my life has turned from darkness and into Your light. It is no longer guilt I feel but love. Your mercy has saved me. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for saving us through Your blood. I am not able to be righteous on my own but Your holiness allows me to be. I am grateful for the peace You have brought into my life. I rejoice in Your goodness. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Psalm 85 (KJV)
1 Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
2Ephesians 1:1-7 (KJV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
