Seeing the Face of Christ in Ourselves--Thursday, February 23, 2012

Psalm 25:1-7

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame;

do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.
7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness' sake, O LORD!

In worshiping God, we must lift up our souls to him. None who wait on and believe in God shall be ashamed of it. Even the most devout believer both needs and wants to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, and are resolved to do our duty, God will show us the way. The psalmist is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God's goodness, not ours – and His mercy, not our merit – that are the foundations for the pardon of our sin. We make an urgent plea because we are acutely aware of our own unworthiness; we must be satisfied with the riches of God's mercy and grace. It is a boundless mercy that covers forever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope. We beg that such mercy be granted us and we ask God to accept our trust in Him.

John Kelso

For reflection:

Is there anything you find yourself wishing God “would not remember?”

What are you “waiting on God” to answer in your life right now?  What impact does this waiting have on you, and/or your relationship with God?

Throughout the day today, consider what it means to walk in God’s pathway.  What would need to change, in order for that to happen more fully?