“Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me…
Let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:1-8,11-12
“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Driven by need, compelled by faith, drawn by irresistible love, the psalmist approaches the Almighty. Not everyone can stand before the King in His holy temple. No boast, no deceit shall enter. Only those on His straight way are led, and welcomed, to His house. Only they, made righteous by His blood, can cross the threshold. (Romans 3:23-25; 5:9; Ephesians 2:18; 3:11-12)
We have situations that suffocate, and challenges that test resolve. We carry regret for past actions and dreams for the future. We bear hurts and hopes. While we may not be able to escape or resolve them, we can always come to Jesus. But here we stumble in self- importance, presenting our tokens of comparison and desert and alibi. We forget His door is marked with death, unto ourselves and of our Christ.
When and why do I approach the Lord? Do I come with self-defined goods and effort or on the basis of His blood and grace? Am I an occasional visitor or regular guest? How might life change if I daily died to self and came in praise and gratitude for wisdom, sustenance, and power? (Galatians 2:20)
“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
my beauty are, my glorious dress;
‘midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
with joy shall I lift up my head.
Bold shall I stand in Thy great day,
for who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am,
from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.” ~ John Wesley (1739)
“No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!” ~Charles Wesley (1738)
Good Father, keep me humble and ever grateful at Your threshold, and dependent, expectant, and rejoicing in Your house.
As the rain and snow 