“When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night, Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.” Psalm 32:3-4
When we are self-deceived and do not acknowledge and confess our utter sinfulness, the inner guilt and shame of our sins weigh us down, and we feel the heavy hand of God’s judgment upon us. Instead of covering up our sins, God would have us acknowledge and confess them and look to Him for mercy in Jesus Christ, our Savior (cf. 1 John 1:7-9).
O almighty God, grant that I not deny or try to cover up my sins but acknowledge them to You and look to You for mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2
True blessing comes to those who acknowledge and confess the truth, admitting their sins and looking in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, for God gives His pardon and forgiveness and the eternal blessings of heaven to all who believe.
Forgive my sins, O LORD, for the sake of the atoning sacrifice of the Son, Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” Galatians 6:18
Paul’s blessing expresses God’s will that the believers in Galatia continue in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not be led away from it by the errors of those advocating circumcision and returning to the worship laws and ceremonies of Old Testament Israel. God desires the same for us: that we continue to trust solely in Christ and His cross, and not be moved away from the grace offered and given to us in Jesus Christ by those who advocate man-made rites, liturgies, and traditions as the way to be acceptable to God.
O God, graciously keep us in the true faith and protect us from the errors of those who would bring us back into bondage under the law. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Galatians 6:16-17
Those who hold to the teaching of salvation through faith alone and grace alone for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross receive God’s mercy and the peace of sins forgiven. They are the true Israel of God, and the true Israel holds to this teaching even though it brings persecution from those who advocate circumcision and the keeping of worship laws to merit God’s grace and favor.
Grant that I trust in You alone, O Christ, and not yield for a moment to the pressures of those who advocate a return to worship laws and ceremonies to merit God’s favor and be acceptable in His sight. Amen.
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:14-15
Only through faith in Jesus Christ and His cross can we sinners be saved. Being circumcised or uncircumcised will avail us of nothing before God. What matters is being regenerated by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and brought to faith in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the world’s sins.
Grant that I trust in You alone, O Lord, and not look to the corrupt works of my flesh but to that which You work in me through the hearing of Your life-giving Word. Amen.
