“But as for me, in the abundance of Your mercy I will enter Your house; in fear of You I will worship at Your holy temple.” Psalm 5:7
Nothing we can do will make us or our worship acceptable to the LORD God. It is only because of God’s abundant mercy in Jesus Christ — for the sake of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sins — that we can, by faith, enter into His presence and honor Him with our worship and praise.
Have mercy upon me, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death in my stead, and receive my worship and praise. Amen.
“Although if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than the one we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so I say now again: If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than the one you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9
Preaching a false gospel is a serious offense and incurs the wrath of God. Thus, when men add human traditions and works of the law to the gospel or teach that a sinner is justified apart from faith alone in Jesus Christ and His universal atonement for sin, they mislead souls to eternal ruin and place themselves under God’s curse and condemnation.
Grant that I hold fast to You, O LORD, and to the gospel of forgiveness and life through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His cross. Amen.
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not a gospel. But there are some who trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7
It is amazing how many turn aside from the true gospel revealed in the Bible to a false gospel that is no gospel at all. Instead of continuing to trust in Christ alone, and His perfect sacrifice for pardon and forgiveness, they turn aside to a false gospel based on their own works and religious service and to a false god who is satisfied with less than the perfect righteousness of Christ.
Grant that I acknowledge my utter sinfulness and look to You in faith, O Christ, for pardon, forgiveness, and Your perfect, imputed righteousness. Amen.
“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5
It was God’s will and plan that Christ Jesus would give Himself for our sins and atone for them on the cross so that He might deliver us from this present evil age. When we repent of our sins and look in faith to Jesus and His cross, we are spared from the judgment soon to come upon this evil world and are given, instead, the eternal joys of heaven.
Thank You, dear Father, for the gift of Your Son to redeem us. Grant us Your Spirit so that we might hear Your Word, trust in Christ Jesus, our Savior, and be saved from this present evil age. Amen.
“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” Proverbs 3:19-20
Should we be surprised that true wisdom and understanding come from the LORD and are revealed in His Word? He created and founded the heavens and the earth and everything in them by His wisdom and understanding!
O God, all wisdom and understanding come from You. Grant that we read and study Your Word and take it to heart that we might know and understand the truth and look to You for our salvation. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
