Dec 28 2024

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

In this verse from Psalm 84, we are reminded that the goodness of the Lord is better than everything else. He is so much better and greater than anything the world can offer us! One day in His courts is better than a thousand days elsewhere, and being a lowly doorkeeper to His house is better than dwelling in the rich tents of the wicked.

As Christians living in a fallen world, we are often forced to choose between what the Lord offers us and what the world entices us with. It isn't always easy to make the right decisions. We might rather have the newest phone than give extra money to the poor, or spend time watching television rather than serving the least among us—even if we know that the Lord sees our faithfulness and will honor it.

However, if we truly understood the goodness of the Lord and the riches that a relationship with Him offers us, many of these decisions would probably be a lot easier. We would happily give up a thousand days on Earth to have a single day in His courts. We wouldn't think about the pleasures of the tents of the wicked when we have the opportunity to stand as a doorkeeper at the Lord's house.

Thinking rightly of the Lord and realizing His goodness is not something that happens overnight. It comes gradually, over the course of time, and it begins with asking the Lord to help us see Him and His glory through the Bible. As we cultivate a relationship with Him, He will guide us and transform our knowledge of Him so it begins to reflect who He really is on an even greater level.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for your goodness. You are so good to me even though I don't deserve it at all. I want to have a correct view of you, and I know that begins with spending more time with you. Help me to understand your greatness, Lord, and show me your love so that I can share it with other people. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dec 27 2024

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. :

In this verse, Paul reminds the Ephesians that while they used to be far away from God, salvation through Jesus has made them near to Him. They were once separated from the Lord by their sin. Their unholiness meant that they could not approach Him. But now that their sins are covered by the perfect sacrifice, they are able to boldly come before the Lord.

Jesus has covered us in grace and removed the stain of sin from us once and for all. This means God no longer holds us at a distance. Much to the contrary, He opens His arms to us. We live under the New Covenant of grace and can enjoy the privileges of unhindered access to the Lord.

Do you take advantage of the fact that we can talk to the Lord at any time during the day? Before Jesus, the Hebrews had to take a sacrifice to a priest, who would then offer it to the Lord, and only then could they petition the Lord for forgiveness. Today, we only have to call on the name of Jesus and the Lord hears us.

The Lord wants us to talk to Him constantly. He is not a distant God relegated to only morning or evening prayers. Rather, He is active in our everyday lives. When we're facing a decision, we should consult Him first. When something happens that upsets us, we should go to Him first. When we rejoice, we should express our gratitude to Him first.

Turning to the Lord first in every circumstance shows our belief that He is the primary filler of all our needs. He is the only one who knows exactly what we need and the only one who can truly satisfy us. When we turn to Him, we give Him the opportunity to move in our lives and change us in ways that only He can.

Dear Lord, I thank you for Jesus, whose blood makes me near to you. I thank you, Lord, for the transformative work of salvation that has set me free from a life of sin and shame and bondage. I thank you Lord, for always listening to me and changing my life on an everyday level. Help me to walk in you with greater awareness of your presence. In Jesus' name, amen.