Scripture:
“I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord: I have NO good apart from you.”” Ps 16:1b
Observation:
How tremendously difficult it is to surrender to this level. This kind of statement isn’t just a theoretical, theological, objective statement of the facts of the Scriptures—I am speaking of making this the subjective, overriding, predominate attitude of my heart, soul, mind, and CONDUCT.
Application:
There are two distinct theological principles (or doctrines—get used to this terminology) in this scripture reference:
1. God is Sovereign, and;
2. Man is not.
Another way to look at this is the Creator vs. the created.
Really embracing this is digging against our ingrained sin nature. The basis of Sin from Adam is that I can figure things out for myself, I have a “self-interest” that (in my wildest imagination) equals (or even surpasses) God’s interest in me. That was Adam’s sin: God said “no”, the serpent said “really?”, and Adam said to himself “the serpent might have a point here.” And like Jean Luc Picard said on the bridge of the Enterprise “Number One, Engage.”
And Adam did; that DNA imprint of Sin carries to all of Adam’s descendants; and every moment if I really pay attention I can feel and sense that embedded rebellion to the Most High God.
It is why I know I need a Savior.
Nevertheless, ever so often I revert to “aww, I have some good, I know I do—I am not all bad.” What is happening when I do this is comparing myself to my imagined persona and not comparing myself to the Triune God.
I think that the current leaning to “I am made in the Image” and hanging on that as something special is not really looking at the proper Biblical perspective. I appreciate and am humbly honored how God thinks about me. What I shouldn’t do (in my opinion) is to glory in myself with that perspective. He looks upon me with Mercy and Grace but not pity. I think I need to understand my place of not deserving His Mercy and Grace and falling down before Him being full of gratefulness for His Mercy in His Propitiation for my redemption. After all: Salvation is ALL of His doing, His one-sided covenant—I contribute not one bit of effort in that.
With that the Bible gives direction: Renew my mind (Rom 8); Be thankful in ALL things (1st Thes 5); Confess sin regularly (James 5); Be a fount of encouragement (Heb 4); Express gratefulness every morning (Jer 3); Pull out my soul and talk to it regularly (Ps 42), and other things.
At the End of Days Revelation says this: “Then I looked and I heard around the throne…”Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the seas, and all that is in them: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”” excerpts from Rev 5:11-13
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to cultivate this attitude for the rest of my days. Help me to communicate this to my wife, my family, my fellowship, my work, my grandchildren and their children. You alone are worthy O God. You alone. AMEN