of confession and forgiveness
by C. H. Spurgeon"Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness." -Psalm 51:14
In this solemn confession, it is pleasing to observe that David plainly names his sin. He does not call it manslaughter, nor speak of it as an imprudence by which an unfortunate accident occured to a worthy man, but he calls it by its true name, bloodguiltiness. He did not actually kill the husband of Bathsheba; but still it was planned in David's heart that Uriah should be slain, and he was before the Lord his murderer.
Learn in confession to be honest with God. Do not give fair names to foul sins; call them what you will, they will smell no sweeter. What God sees them to be, that do you labour to feel them to be; and with all openness of heart acknowledge their real character. Observe, that David was evidently oppressed with the heinousness of his sin. It is easy to use words, but it is difficult to feel their meaning. The fifty-first Psalm is the photograph of a contrite spirit. Let us seek after the like brokenness of heart; for however excellent our words may be, if our heart is not conscious of the hell-deservingness of sin, we cannot expect to find forgiveness.
Our text has in it an earnest prayer - it is addressed to the God of salvation. It is His prerogative to forgive; it is His very name and office to save those who seek His face. Better still, the text calls Him the God of my salvation. Yes, blessed be His name, while I am yet going to Him though Jesus' blood, I can rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The psalmist ends with a commendable vow: if God will deliver him he will sing - nay, more, he will "sing aloud." Who can sing in any other style of such a mercy as this! But note the subject of the song - "Thy righteousness." We must sing of the finished work of a precious Savior, and he who knows most of forgiving love will sing the loudest.
from Morning and Evening by C. H. Spurgeon
Labels: articles, books, quotes, repentance, scripture verses, sin, spurgeon, the bible
the treasure of Jesus
This quote comes from a wonderful, thought-provoking book I am reading. Some of you may have heard of it. It's called
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper (definitely a must-read!). This section is one of the many that really hit me. It's very sobering, but nevertheless it is true. I hope this gets you thinking as it did me. This quote comes from the chapter titled "Living to Prove He is More Precious Than Life".
Why Don't People Ask Us About Out Hope?"There is no doubt that if we lived more like this, the world would be more likely to consider whether Jesus is an all-satisfying Treasure. He would look like one. When was the last time someone asked you about 'the reason for the hope that is in you'? That's what Peter said we should always be ready to give an answer for: 'Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you' (1 Peter 3:15).
Why don't people ask us about our hope? The answer is probably that we look as if we hope in the same things they do. Our lives don't look like they are on the Calvary road, stripped down for sacrificial love, serving others with the sweet assurance that we don't need to be rewarded in this life. Our reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:12)! 'You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just' (Luke 14:14). If we believed this more deeply, others might see the worth of God and find in him their gladness."
As I read this, I was reminded of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Treasure of Jesus". The album it came off of ("All Things New") is based on
Don't Waste Your Life. So as I read more of this book, I keep finding little parts that remind me so much of a certain song from that album. It's pretty neat. :) Anyway, here are the words to the song. May this be the desire of all our hearts - to show the world the Treasure of Jesus!
"Treasure of Jesus" By Steven Curtis Chapman
What can I do
How can I live
To show my world
The treasure of Jesus
What will it take
What could I give
So they can know
The treasure He is
And if I can sing
Let my songs be full of His glory
If I can speak
Let my words be full of His grace
And if I should live or die
Let me be found pursuing this prize
The One that alone satisfies
The treasure of Jesus
Amen!
Labels: books, music, quotes, songs
