Word or the day by Christian Education Forum

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Thankful heart
  Psalms 103:1-7

Ronnie Roy
Seattle MTC, Oregon

2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits 3 who forgives all your iniquity,who heals all your diseases,4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
 
Psalm 103, a Psalm of praise, talks about praising the Lord for forgiving our sins, for healing our diseases, for redeeming sinners, and being a warrior of justice for the oppressed. This is particularly true when we look at the life of Jesus. He showed us the true image of our Father, and a glimpse of life eternal, by forgiving the sins of those who came to him. He dined with sinners, and championed the poor, he brought people back from the pit of death and sin, through his miracles and by igniting the hearts of sinners to change their ways and follow him.

 
“ A God who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion”. Those words will ring through our soul and touch our very core. We see the example of David himself, the chosen king of Israel, who found himself struggling with the challenges of life, and deep in the pits of sin, at times. The Lord redeemed him, the Lord granted him wealth, and a legacy that has lived on for generations since he passed away, and eventually allowing his bloodline to be the chosen lineage for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. David’s life was by no means perfect, but in his life he chose to seek the Lord, and even when he was led astray, the Lord called him and gave him a chance to redeem himself, through the prophet Nathan.

In our busy lives, it  may be difficult to find time to sit down and spend time in prayer and sometimes just to sit and thank the Lord and praise him for keeping us safe through our daily commutes, for helping us get through every week without  harm. Did David praise the Lord because of the blessings bestowed upon him? Or did the Lord bestow his blessings and love on David because David sought the Lord? I think we see a true love relationship where the Lord was his Savior and his Friend, and his Father, and the one who forgave his sins, and healed his heart, and gave him victory over his enemies and oppressors. In coming to the Lord and accepting Jesus Christ, those same promises are given to the Church, and we the body of Christ, are made heirs to that promise. It is only right for us to praise the Lord with all our soul, and our innermost being, for the God of Hosts gave His beloved son as a sacrifice, so He could win us back.

PRAYER

Dear God, bless us with the presence of the Holy Spirit  and guide us on the path you wish us to walk.. Take us to places you want us to go, and meet the people you want us to meet, and use us to share your love and the love of the Church with the people that we meet. In your name we pray. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
 
We can be the Church of Christ by sharing his love with every person we meet today. 

 

  

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