Psalm 31

I had a conversation with my wife last night about how I feel my own iniquities have not only stained me but permanently deformed my soul, and that the blood of Christ may cleanse me from stain but I still feel deformed after being cleansed and am not pleasing to the Father.

"For I said in my haste,'I am cut off from before you eyes'". (v.22)

"My eye wastes away with grief,my soul and my body!For my life is spent with griefand my years with sighing;My strength fails because of my iniquity,and my bones waste away." (v.9-10)

But she helped me remember I am not only cleansed, I am remade.

"Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You." (v.22)

"Oh how great is Your goodnesswhich you have laid up for those who fear You,Which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!" (v.19)

The Lord has brought 3 things to mind since I expressed that to my wife barely 24 hours ago.

1. Colossians 1:22 — Christ's redemption not only cleanses, but allows us to appear before the Father "beyond reproach". In other words He looks at us in Christ and can't find anything wrong with us! No flaws

2. Proof — the 1st chapter of the book about grace we will be discussing in one of our midweek groups reminds me that this attitude or perspective is evidence that I believe I need to perform for God's favor, which is not grace. There is a section in that chapter that echoes much of what my wife and I discussed.

3. Now this Psalm, with the psalmist expressing many of my own feelings in vs. 9-13, yet showing that He answers with kindness and grace to comfort and restore my soul, and to contradict the feelings that were causing so much trouble.

"For I said in my haste 'I am cut off from Your eyes,'Nevertheless, You heard the voice of my supplication when I cried out to You." (v.22)

And You answered me 3 times on that day.