I’m working on a new approach to my blog series this year and using the Psalms to do so. The Psalms have brought tremendous comfort and guidance to so many for so long. Join me in taking a fresh look at each Psalm. As you read through them, I urge you to reflect, pray, and apply these devotional bits of encouragement to your own life. Today, we study and reflect on Psalms 49, 50, and 51.
Reflection 1
Personal wealth must be leveraged to help others. If you have been blessed materially and are not giving a significant portion to help others, you miss the point of Scripture. Don’t fall into greed. Instead, give and share. Don’t be selfish. Be selfless. Make sacrificial giving and generosity a part of your legacy. This is not a fund-raising post, rather it’s a faith raising post. Step up and give. Give to your church, compassion center, and people you know who have need. We must become more compassionate, empathetic, caring, and giving.
“Do not be overawed when others grow rich when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper— they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.” — Psalms 49:16-20
Reflection 2
Walking in faith has two parts: your part and God’s part. God’s part is unconditionally certain and sure. He hears you, will deliver you, loves you, and cares about every area of your life. Our part is another matter. We tend to be inconsistent. We must devote ourselves to walk in obedience and devotion, not picking and choosing where we will obey and not obey. We must truly obey and follow Christ in all things. How we talk, love, relate, act, care for others, give, serve people in need, live and love like Jesus are all incredibly important. This is where we trip up. We all need to lean in more to Jesus. I challenge you to pray this prayer today: “More than anything I want to love you, Jesus, and honor You with my life.” Will you reaffirm this today? Tell the Lord and join me in recommitting your life to live in complete devotion to Christ. Make it your quest. People all around us need to see Jesus in us.
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” — Psalms 50:14-15
Reflection 3
We need to get to the heart of the matter which is the matter of our heart. Jesus said in the first Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Blessed are those who know they desperately need God, and who know they must be dependent on God. Blessed are those who realize they are nothing without God. Does this describe you in this season? Humility of heart is a crucial and primary trait of the true Christ worshipper. Hardness and arrogance of heart push us away from Jesus and focuses our affection elsewhere. Arrogance, hardness of heart, self-reliance, and worship of self, celebrity status, and material gain saturates our society. It is everywhere you look. If you want to follow Jesus with your whole heart, you must fight against these things daily by humbling yourself and choosing to purposefully and sincerely follow Him. Join me today in praying this prayer from Psalm 51.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” — Psalms 51:1-4, 7, 10, 17