Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Spurgeon pens a short list of "honors" that Israel awarded to Christ leading up to His death. It's moving to read them and to think of the shame and humiliation that our Savior endured leading up to and including the cross. I agree with Spurgeon when he says that "the cross was, in fact, the full expression of the world's feeling towards Him". But you know... apart from the Holy Spirit radically changing our hearts, we would have been numbered among the scoffers. We would have been numbered among those yelling "crucify Him, crucify Him!" I read this morning's devotion and I shake my head... in wonder, amazement, humility. Christ suffered the cross... His death brought me life. Sometimes it's too much to wrap my head around... but it never ceases to make my heart thankful.

I love Psalm 51 and because I sin, I find myself going back to this psalm often in my life. Psalm 51 gives us a perfect model on how we might repent and seek forgiveness from our Lord. I think Spurgeon sums up this Psalm well in one page. We must be honest about our sin, direct our plea for forgiveness to God (because He alone can forgive) and then worship with joy on the basis of His righteousness.

We must sing of the finished work of a precious Saviour; and he who knows most of forgiving love will sing the loudest.

We'll see who sings the loudest on Sunday! :-)