In Christ’s Righteousness We are Made Righteous Legally and Practically

Day 82: Psalms 34:11-16

            Psalm 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

            Lord Jesus, help us listen to You in and through Your Word by the power of your Holy Spirit working in and through us. Help us hear and believe and receive You and Your perfect wisdom as you reveal it to us. Help us to walk in Your will and Your way. Help us know and believe the truth that Your way is always wisest and best. Help us have that godly desire to love and worship, believe and follow You all our lives.

The fear of the Lord begins with a deep and true acknowledgment of God and our need for Him. Even the Lord Jesus came into the world preaching repentance. Matthew 4:17 says, From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The fear of the Lord means that we acknowledge You are in charge, O God. We acknowledge that You are all-powerful and holy. We acknowledge that You have the rights and authority over all creation. You could destroy us in an instant in perfect justice and holiness, but we come before You humbly confessing our sin, turning from our sin to believe, trust, seek and follow the living God who loves us and has given His only eternal Son for our lives.

            We repent of evil. We turn from any evil in our hearts and our tongues. We turn from any evil and seek God’s good. We seek the peace that comes from God, trusting God to redeem us, restore us, forgive us and help us walk in holiness and truth. We seek His truth and His peace. We pursue it as a runner pursues a goal and a prize. Only Your perfect, eternal Son kept the law with no sin or error or fault! It is in Him that we are declared righteous legally and helped to walk in godliness practically.

            Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. 16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

            The Lord knows those who are His own, those who seek Him in Spirit and in truth. He knows those who are just and live by faith in Him and in His provision. He knows our hearts, even though we in many ways stumble and fall. He comes to our aid. He hears our prayers and the groanings too deep for words and He brings us safely home.

            But the Lord also knows those who continually refuse Him. He knows those who stubbornly refuse His kindness and love. His face is set against the wicked. The Lord alone can redeem us and help us follow Him. We were wicked and dead in our sins, but the Lord redeemed us. Others have hardened their hearts and refuse to repent and seek the Lord’s goodness to men. God will send them to everlasting torment. He will cut them off from His eternal favor.