April 23, 2019
For full passage click: Psalm 118:14-20 …“Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.” vs. 19
The psalmist had been through some tough days, but he knew for certain that the Lord was his salvation. With confidence and boldness he now asks that the gates of righteousness would be opened to him. No longer wracked by guilt or self-doubt, he knows that he is one of the righteous–he has direct access to the Lord. While the psalmist’s metaphors may seem strange, they do speak to us of an important truth. Because the Lord is our salvation there’s no reason for us to demean ourselves with negative self-talk or pointless recriminations. There’s no need for any of us to grovel before God and revel in our sinfulness. To use an old image, we are the redeemed! We are choice creations of the Lord, the apple of God’s eye, and we need to learn to act like it. Of course we will disappoint ourselves and others with thoughtless and selfish deeds and words, but that’s not the last word about who we are. What a blessing it is when, like the psalmist, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that we are both loved and forgiven. We children of God are beautiful! What a difference it makes to know that in our hearts! We can hold our heads high, put smiles on our faces, and smother the world with love! Such is our calling and our purpose!
Thought for the Day: How do I present myself to the world? As a slumping sinner or a proud saint?
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