Exodus 30:11-31:18
Matthew 26:47-68
Psalm 32:1-11
Proverbs 8:27-32
Exodus 31:12 The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: 13 “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
Great reminder to me today because Saturday this week is my sabbath. It really made a difference for me last week and I trust that God will bless this sabbath as well. I am praying that a sabbath to focus on God and rest is more sustainable than my attempts to spend extended time with God each day. I have noticed that spending a whole day with God did make a difference in my remembering that I have chosen to consecrate my life to Him and did help me to make better decisions in areas I struggle in.
Matthew 26:52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
If you had any doubt when I said that Jesus could have chosen to walk away and not go to the cross, listen to His words here. He tells His disciples He could chose to defend Himself by calling on an angel army but He will not because then God's promise would not be fulfilled. God's will would not be done. God's promise is Jesus' promise and God's will is Jesus' will and in His faithfulness He would do as He has promised because His desire is that all would not perish but have everlasting life. So yes, He could but He won't.
Psalm 32:1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Why Praise Him...If you can think of no other reason to find joy and praise the Lord this is enough. Jesus who could, didn't so rejoice because if you have trusted your life to Jesus your sins have been forgiven.
Psalm 32:3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Why confess our sins...Even though Jesus who is faithful has done what He promised and forgiven our sins, we still need to recognize the sin in our lives and confess it to Him. When we try to hide our guilt and tell ourselves and others that the sin in our lives is not really sin then we will suffer the consequences of that guilt. But when we agree with God about our sins then we also recognize the greatness of the gift of forgiveness that He gives us really is.
Psalm 32:6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Why pray...He is our salvation so thank Him. He is our protector so rely on Him. He is our defender so trust Him. He is our counselor and guide in life so ask Him. He does not want to make us do anything. We are given the freedom to think for ourselves and we can understand and reason and choose to follow Him unlike animals that need to be controlled and driven to do what we want them to do so follow Him. When we pray to Him and seek Him, He will fellowship with us, and we will be able to choose to obey. And when we do, we will have reason to shout for joy.
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