“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.” Psalm 92:1-5
God’s creative works testify of His great wisdom and understanding, as well as His almighty power. They are reason to acknowledge the true God and offer Him our worship and praise! The fact that He has redeemed us from sin and death through the innocent sufferings and death of His only-begotten Son in our stead and then raised Him up from the dead is certainly reason to thank and praise His name!
“We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator, in grateful devotion our tribute we bring; we lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee; we bless Thy holy name, glad praises we sing.” ( Julia B. Cory, 1902)
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:5-6
If we truly know God’s love for us in Christ Jesus, it will move us to keep the word and teaching of our Lord Jesus. It is evidence that we trust in Christ Jesus as our Savior if we, as a fruit of faith, seek to walk as He walked.
O Holy Spirit, work through Your Word and grant me true faith in Christ Jesus and move me to live as he lived. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3-4
If one is a Christian — if he is truly sorry for his sins and looks in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness — he will then seek to keep Jesus’ commandments and live in accordance with God’s Word. One who claims to know Jesus Christ and trust in Him but disregards His commandments is a liar and not a true believer.
Grant that I truly repent of my sins and look to you in faith, Lord Jesus, that I may have forgiveness for all my sins and walk in accord with Your Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2
Why can we confess our sins and look in faith to God for pardon and forgiveness? How can a holy God be faithful and just in forgiving us all our sins? It is because our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who lived a righteous and holy life in our stead, made full atonement for our sins and the sins of all when He suffered and died on the cross.
O gracious and merciful God, forgive my sins and grant me pardon for the sake of Christ’s perfect righteousness in my stead and His perfect sacrifice for my sins. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9
If we deny the truth that we are sinners and guilty under God’s law, we are only deceiving ourselves. If we agree with God’s Word and acknowledge our guilt and sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness for the sake of the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, in our stead.
I am sinful and unclean, O God. Pardon my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin for the sake of Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross in my stead. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
