Tues., 7/2/13 Devotion (Ps. 130:3-4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 130:3 & 4, where we read these words:

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."

Everyone's problems, at base, all have to do with forgiveness. Human beings' biggest issue is sin against God. To know that our sins are ac-tually forgiven in the blood atonement of Christ, apprehended by grace through faith alone, is the greatest singular blessing we may enjoy--in this world, and the next.

That knowledge opens up for us the very face of God. We know that we are loved by Him, even though we are still sinners (down here). It is hard to believe that such a perfect God could actually love His church--even after their sins are gone--but it is our blessed responsibility to be-lieve this precious truth.

[Puritan quote of the day: "In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, among that cloud of witnesses, we see Rahab, Gideon, and Samson ranked with Abraham, the father of the faithful (Heb. 11:31-32)." --Richard Sib-bes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]