BLESSED ASSURANCE
Opening Prayer
Draw near to God now with “full assurance” of faith, cleansed from a “guilty conscience” (Heb. 10:22).
Read Psalm 26
Of David.
1 Vindicate me, Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
and have not faltered.
2 Test me, Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.
5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go about your altar, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
8 Lord, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Is anything hindering you from coming to God? Jesus has opened the way through his blood.David’s claims don’t sit right with us. He’s a bit too self-satisfied and boastful. He defends himself, sure of his clear conscience before God and other people. Could we ever adopt that approach?
It’s important to understand that David does not claim perfection. His contention is that he is loyal, no matter the peer pressure (4,5). His allegiance to God is demonstrated in his trust in God’s unfailing love and reliance on God’s faithfulness (3). He is as dependent on God’s mercy as any of us (11). But his trust gives him great confidence.
The Lord sees our hearts. He knows when they are aligned with his, when his glory is our chief concern (8). He looks for a Timothy who looks out not for his own interests but for those of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:21), or for a Persis, a “woman who has worked very hard in the Lord” (Rom. 16:12). Living like that produces “great assurance” in faith (1 Tim. 3:13).
Perhaps David’s experience is not so foreign after all. When we are accused, misrepresented or have our integrity called into question, we too can come with a clear conscience before God and ask for vindication.
Apply
It is often when we feel least like coming to God that we need him most. Is there a sin in your life you’ve been trying to “fix” before you come to God? Bring it to him today and let him do the fixing.
Closing prayer
How honest are you with God about how you feel? Speak openly to him now.
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