“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” Psalm 57:1
When trouble comes, those who trust in Christ take refuge in God’s mercy and forgiveness offered and given them for the sake of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, and hide me under the shadow of Thy wings. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:5-7
When we were joined to Christ in baptism, our old sin-corrupted self was crucified with Christ and put to death so that sin would no longer rule over us. And, being joined to Christ in His death, we shall also be raised to new life in the image and likeness of the risen Christ. Our old sinful nature is now crucified with Christ so that we may live for our risen Savior and not continue to serve sin or give in to its desires.
Grant that we count ourselves dead to sin but alive to You, dear Savior, and live for You according to your Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4
We sometimes forget that when we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were joined to Christ in His death and in His resurrection so that His death for the sins of the world might be our death and that His resurrection from the dead on the third day might also be our resurrection from spiritual death to a new spiritual life lived for Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:15).
Grant that I continue in the mercy and forgiveness given to me at my baptism, O Christ, and, by daily contrition and repentance, put off my old sinful nature with all its sins and desires and put on the new nature created in me by Your Holy Spirit, that I may live for You and do Your will all my days. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21
The law reveals our utter sinfulness and condemns us all, but Christ’s atoning sacrifice covers all our sins. So, as sin reigned over all of us, condemning us to eternal death, God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus (for the sake of Christ’s death on the cross) is extended to all of us that it might reign by imputing to us righteousness through faith in Christ and giving to all who believe forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
I thank You, O Christ, for atoning for all my sins that I might be pardoned and forgiven through faith in Your name and receive life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Adam’s sin brought the reign of death over all mankind, for all are sinners. But those who receive God’s grace and imputed righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus will reign in life because of Christ’s obedience to God’s law in our stead and His innocent sufferings and death for the sins of all.
Merciful Father, though I was born into this world dead in sin through Adam’s fall, grant me never-ending life through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of all. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
