A Changed Life

"Today's Devotion" For July 27, 2006

Read: Psalm 30; Revelation 19:1-10

A CHANGED LIFE

"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever." (Psalm 30:11, 12)

Have you ever thought about making any changes in your life? At some point or another in each of our lives we come to the realization that things need to change. We may find ourselves in job situations which don't utilize our gifts, talents, and abilities in the best way. Or, perhaps our home lives need a "pick-me-up" because we're taking our spouses or children for granted and tensions are mounting. Maybe our goals and dreams for the future are crashing down around us because of medical problems or financial woes. Think of the stress which comes to people when their job security is threatened or they lose a job. When such situations arise for us, the desire to make the changes necessary to alleviate or eliminate them, the stress they bring, and the fear and anxiety they foster is overwhelming. All too often, however, we find ourselves wallowing in the swamp of despair and helplessness, seemingly unable to meet such challenges and overcome them.

Scripture speaks volumes about such situations in the lives of people. In Psalm 30, for instance, David has written a psalm of praise to God that he wanted to be read upon the dedication of the Temple (which Solomon would later build). David remembers the miserable things that Sin had brought into his life, how it had affected his behavior, and how it had driven his enemies to come after him to destroy him. At the same time he also recalls how God delivered him from his despair over his sins and from those seeking his destruction. God's forgiveness gave him new life, restored his faith and trust in God, and led him to more fully appreciate God's grace, mercy, and love. God had ended his tears of despair, lifted him up by His mighty hand, "clothed (him) with joy (v.11)," and filled his heart with songs of joy and thanksgiving as a witness and testimony of God's goodness and love for all to see.

God changes lives. He makes the difference for us in times of despair; during the times when we fail to obey Him, fail to serve Him, or forget to give Him thanks. No matter what transpires in our lives, by faith we can be as confident as David that God will deliver us from everything that seeks to keep us from His love. We can be certain that God will always hear us, will always answer us, and will never forsake us. As John writes in Revelation, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are His judgments...Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!" (Revelation 19:1b, 6b, 7)

The ultimate in life changing activity comes to us in God's gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. In Him our sins are forgiven. We are no longer subject to the slavery of Sin, but are free to know God and His love for us, and to serve Him and others in Jesus' name. In Christ, ours are changed lives. In Christ our sins are forgiven and His righteousness makes us pure before God. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18). We no longer have to be subject to the despair that Sin brings into our lives. The righteousness of Christ is ours by faith and it covers us and changes our appearance before God, taking our sins and putting them on Jesus so that when the Father looks at us He sees Jesus and His holiness. Today our lives are changed by faith in Christ Jesus. Tomorrow our lives will continue to be changed by faith in Christ Jesus. For all of our lives, through all of our days, our lives will be changed daily in Jesus Christ as we receive His forgiveness and His love. Our changed lives will be known as we declare God's praises, exalt His holy name, and are living proof of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to a lost and fallen world.

Prayer: Father, with David I sing Your praises and exalt Your holy name. You have changed my life by calling me by the Gospel into the marvelous light of Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Christ. Even when I didn't deserve Your love and was lost in the same despair over my sins as was David, You continued to work in my heart and life by the power of Your Word and Spirit so that I might be changed by You to serve You and others in Jesus' name. In Holy Baptism, You accomplished my renewal and regeneration and continue to build me up in Your peace and joy so that my life might be a living testimony to Your life-changing love. Keep me ever faithful, gracious Father, so that I might continue to sing Your praises with my heart, my tongue, my lips, and my actions - clearly showing others Your life-changing power as I point them to You and the hope of heaven with Christ. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.