Thursday May 20, 2021

Today’s Reading: Psalm 26

“Vindicate me, O LORD,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD;
I shall not slip.“

Psalm 26:6-7

Reflection: If you are “good with” the mayor of a certain city, you will probably feel pretty safe when you are in city hall. You walk around pretty freely without too many worries because you are good with the head honcho (unless that mayor is under investigation or being recalled)!

When you are good with God, then life is truly good. It does not matter who may be against you, or what situations you may be facing if your are good with God. For God’s presence gives us peace and God’s presence gives us perspective that we may see life with God in focus and realize that because we are good with God, then it is all good! God is the supreme authority, there is no one who can challenge His throne, and because He is God, those who are good with Him can have the blessed assurance of knowing that He is in control. So, how do we get good with God?

In Psalm 26, the Psalmist expresses this peace of being good with God, and how this reality plays out in his life, causing him to do what is good in the eyes of God. But the Psalmist also reveals that it is God who makes him “good with” God. It is not the effort of the Psalmist that makes him good with God, or else he would not plead with God to vindicate him. Only God can make the Psalmist good with Him, and because God does, the Psalmist is able to do what is right.

Being good with God cannot happen through our own efforts. Being good with God is possible only because God made us good with Him through Jesus. And because we are good with God, we can now do good for God. We do not have to worry about doing good to get good with God. Because God has made us good with Him, we can do good for Him through His power in the Holy Spirit. The only way to live life is by being good with God, and they only way to be good with God is through Jesus Christ His Son. If you are good with God, then it is all good!

Prayer: Father God, thank You for making me good with You through Jesus. You took my sin and my shame and You gave me righteousness in Jesus’ name. Thank You, God, for saving me. Please continue to transform my heart that I may tell of your goodness and point people to You. I love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.

Bible-in-a-Year Reading Plan (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Luke 19:28-48; Genesis 33-34; Psalm 26