Savoring the Scripture

A Broken and Contrite Heart Psalm 51 “And he went out and wept bitterly”(Luke 22:62).  These words follow Peter’s realization of the fulfillment of Jesus’ words concerning his denial. Words that Peter vehemently declared would never happen. Just hours earlier as they sat around the Passover table, Jesus told His disciples that one of them would betray Him.  And not only would one of them betray Him, but Jesus turned to Peter and told him that before the rooster crowed two times, Peter himself would deny Christ three times. Satan had asked to sift him as wheat, and the Lord had given permission.  That night Peter came face to face with the reality of his own frailty. Though he desired steadfast faithfulness to the Lord, and though he loved Jesus, his own flesh was weak. But this humbling which caused bitter weeping would be used by the Lord to strengthen the brethren. The Lord used it in order that Peter might warn those of the dispersion as well as us, “Be of sober spirit...

The Heavy Burden of Sin Psalm 38 If the mind fails to identify a sin as evil, wicked, vile, and bitter, the affections will not be safe from clinging to it, nor the will from giving consent. This is one side of the castle wall, the first line of defense: to keep in mind that every sin is a forsaking of God (Jeremiah 2:19), to never forget the polluting, corrupting, defiling power of sin-to be shaken to the core by how much God loathes sin. Kris Lundgaard, The Enemy Within The First Catechism defines sin as “any thought, word, or deed that breaks God’s law by omission or commission.” The sins of omission are those things required for us by God that we fail to do. The sins of commission are those things we do that God has forbidden. As believers, followers of Christ, we take seriously our obedience to the Lord. Our obedience does not earn us a right standing, forgiveness, and acceptance with God, but rather, because of our forgiveness and acceptance by God through Christ, we pursue holin...

Psalm 32 Forgiveness  He is blessed indeed who has a substitute to stand for him to whose account all his debts may be set down. C.H.Spurgeon “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm‬ ‭103:12‬). These amazing words have offered much comfort and hope to many who have struggled with the weight and guilt of sin. While this wonderful gift has come to us freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, it was purchased for us by the blood of Christ. Part of our response of gratitude to such grace is to pursue holiness because He is holy. But even after salvation, we still struggle with indwelling sin. It is a healthy habit to come to the Lord and say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24). When He brings our sin to our attention, we need to confess and turn from that sin, rest in His forgivenes...