January 15th - Reflection

Psalm 40:1-11 (NRSV)
Doing the will of God

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who make
the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, "Here I am;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold
your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
keep me safe forever.

Reflection
We are called to obedience. We are called to wait upon the Lord. God will draw us from the pit we have created. The pit of sin that we can't escape. We face the consequences of our sin for sure but the result of death has been forgiven when we turn and wait upon the Lord in repentance.

And God sets our feet in the place he chooses for us. In our obedience God fills our minds and hearts with his wondrous Word and drives us forward in his plan with deeds only God has prepared for us. Obedient to the call of God we fulfill his plan in the unique way that only God can direct for our individual lives.

In our obedience it's not about the offerings we bring of what God has already provided and blessed us with  in earthly goods. God desires the offering of our lives in obedience to his call. Upon our offering a song of praise rises from our lips and we shout in jubilation all of what God has done for us. This is a BIG thing here! God has brought us from certain death to life in him.

It is God's love and faithful obedience to our care that has kept us safe forever. What a love! What a faithfulness! What a wonderful call to obedience God has given you and me! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you pull me out of the mud that I have gotten fixed in time after time. Take my life and make it as your would have it be. For you are my salvation always. --- Amen