Psalm 50 - 1.9.24
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 50:14,15 "Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on Me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me."
OBSERVATION: Asaph, the musician who was appointed by David penned this psalm to two groups of people: The believers, and the ones who professed to be believers, but, who were actually unbelievers. The unbelievers were good at reciting God's laws, but they were also very good at violating them!
Asaph was used to call and gather God's faithful ones. He brought a warning of judgement against those who were living hypocritical lives, who were full of greed and self-indulgence. God addressed the hypocrites as 'wicked'. "What right do you have to recite My statutes and to take My covenant on your lips? You hate instruction and turn your back on My words. When you see a thief, you make friends with him, and you associate with adulterers. You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit..." (verses 16-19).
APPLICATION: The way to demonstrate our genuine love for God is to be authentic worshippers by living Christ-centered lives. The basis for our worship is the Word of God itself.
As Christ-followers, we are not to conform to the world, but we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices; holy and pleasing to Him. The only way we are to do this is to die to our flesh, which is totally impossible without the help and aid of the Holy Spirit. "The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you." (Romans 8:7-9).
All sincere Christians face struggles and inner conflicts, even Paul, when he tried to walk in God's will on his own strength failed miserably! But, in despair, when he cried out to God for help, he was able to testify that Jesus graciously delivered him! The temptation to regress to go back to the "old pattern" will always be there, but the Holy Spirit is there to deliver us and help us to become victorious over-comers as we call out to Him.
PRAYER: I pray, in view of God's mercies, that my body will be a living sacrifice, and that I will allow His Word to transform me into His image. And, I thank Him that in the day of trouble, (when temptation comes, and my flesh wants to get out of hand), that I will call out to Him to rescue me. And, I honor Him for the way He has helped me to get where I am today!
- Robin Orefice
