Devotional for May 11

Redeemed By the Lord’s Mercies

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:1-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Commitment is a key ingredient for consistency. It takes commitment, not motivation, to get you up out of bed early every morning to praise God, read His word, and workout whether you feel like it or not. Saul, the first king of Israel, provides a good example of a weak commitment that shows itself as soon as his obedience to God became an inconvenience. He was impatient and unwilling to walk by faith. He was rebellious like a stubborn horse or mule. Without the sure mercies of David, there would be many of us just like Saul, who would never be fit for the kingdom of God. Being fit for eternal life is to be led by the Spirit, to trust in God with a firmly fixed belief in His word, and to wait on the Lord for all that is needful. Consistently trusting God in good times as well as bad times honors Him greatly. He alone is worthy of such trust, and He will strengthen you so that you are able to endure whatever He allows to come near you.

Question

What must mercy do for us?

Answer

Mercy must end all of the wrong affections of our heat (Hebrews 3:8-10; Psalm 119:9-12; Matthew 16:24; Psalm 40:8). The heart is the key to living a victorious Christian life that pleases God (1 John 1:9-10; Proverbs 23:26; Romans 8:33-39). “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might” is both a command and a promise (Ephesians 6:10; Proverbs 4:23). He who did not spare His only begotten Son, but gave Him up for all of us, will certainly save us from the inner corruption produced by wrong desires of the heart (James 1:21; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 8:31-32; Hebrews 7:25). We can be sure that if we ask for it, the zeal of the Lord will perform it in us (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 2:13; Isaiah 9:6-7; 2 Peter 3:17-18).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty Father who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give me grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that I may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.