Thursday June 3, 2021

Today’s Reading: Psalm 40

Lord my God, You have done many things- Your wonderful works and Your plans for us; none can compare with You. If I were to report and speak [of them], they are more than can be told.

Psalm 40:5

Reflection: What can we do for the LORD Who turned to us and heard our cry for help? While He created the universe by great power and wisdom and sustains it moment by moment, He was not to busy to listen to us in our weakness and respond with the everlasting love to redeem us. Although He is Holy and pure, He has not hesitated to draw near and bring us up from darkness, out of the filth of our sin and upon His own firm foundation established by His Son. He saw us wallowing in the muddy clay and did not forsake us in our misery. He has ensured our safety by Christ’s loving sacrifice, a work that cannot be undone. Furthermore, the LORD has not only reestablished our footing, but given us a new song to sing. He has replaced songs of lament and worry, songs of self and songs of pride into songs of praise. Now we have not only been saved by the LORD, but have also a new message about Him to proclaim to the world around us!

What, then, can we do for a God who has done all of this for us? Who has not left us in our despair, but changed us into beholders of everlasting joy? What shall we do for the LORD Who has not only sustained the cosmos, but us finite beings who are here to day and gone tomorrow, who has saved us from death so that we would enjoy eternity in His Presence? We can see His works and fear Him, and put our trust in all that He has done. We can give Him good pleasure by singing the new song He has given! Whenever it is difficult to do the things of God, what He has done for us is more than enough to move us towards acting in gratitude. When we are timid about singing the LORD’s praise, we can be encouraged to sing by remembering that He has graciously given this song as a blessing to us.

This is the importance of remembering the great work of our God. Our own works, though menial, begin with our remembrance of His faithfulness and please Him when they are done in obedience and love. Let all that the LORD has done cause us to offer all we can for His glory!

Prayer: Loving God, do You great things. Even as You work Your wonders in Your created universe, even as You prove Your might throughout the world, You have not forgotten me. You have kept me and cared for me, and saved me from death. You have rescued me from sin and preserved me for eternity by Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You, LORD, for who am I to receive such blessings from You? You are so good, LORD. I give You praise. Please help me to continue serving You out of gratitude for all that You’ve done. Please help me to hear You as You bring me to opportunities in which I can glorify You. Thank You for allowing me to do good works for You. I pray all of these things in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Bible-in-a-Year Reading Plan (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Hebrews 6:13-20; Exodus 1:1-2:25; Psalm 40