BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 25

Sub title: Salvation comes from the LORD.

                                He has promised it! He will deliver it!

“The LORD is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live. He leads humble people to do what is right, and he teaches them his way. Every path of the LORD is {one of} mercy and truth for those who cling to his promise and written instructions. For the sake of your name, O LORD, remove my guilt, because it is great. Who, then, is this person that fears the LORD? He is the one whom the LORD will teach which path to choose. He will enjoy good things in life, and his descendants will inherit the land. The LORD advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise.” Psalm 25:8-14 (God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)

To whom does God promise salvation? Guilty sinners! It not given to the righteous, or those who claim to be righteous, but it is given to those who recognize their sin. It is not given to the proud, self-sufficient, self-reliant person who makes his or her own way in life and strives to earn God’s favor through righteous living and acts of mercy. It is not given to the ultra-conservative or ultra-religious person who practices meditation, fasting, ritual prayers, or self-sacrifices all in an effort to please God.

No, it is ONLY given to those who humbly cling to God’s promises of mercy. These are the ones who recognize that they cannot of themselves remove their guilt or make amends for their sin filled ways. They have come to realize that they have only one recourse; total surrender, flat out submission to the mercy of God.

This is NOT an act of reaching out to God to take hold of Him (as if someone could have a part in their salvation), but an act of surrender; a recognition that they are helpless to do anything, except submit to God. To be at the mercy of God is to recognize that there is nothing you can do that would please Him or remove the guilt of your sin. It is the absence of action. It is the essence of humility. It is the death of your willful disobedience. It is the stillness of total submission. This can only come from the Holy Spirit, working through the Word of God, which reveals to us the helplessness of our sinful human condition in the presence of God’s holiness and almighty power. This is rightfully a fearful place to be. We resist. We shudder to think about it. We are non-the-less sinful sinners at the mercy of ONE who hates sin and has the power to destroy both the sin and the sinner.  

However, this is the work of God at His finest! God is merciful and compassionate and forgiving. He forgives and shows His mercy to those who submit to His mercy. He redeems the broken hearted. He gives spiritual sight to those who call out to Him for mercy. He forgives their sins, washes away their guilt, and lifts up and restores those who depend on Him for salvation. David said, “The LORD is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live.” David recognized this truth about God; ‘God desires to restore the lives of sinful beings’.

The humble, broken-hearted, repentant sinner will be forgiven. They will follow the instructions of the LORD. They will have a relationship with God that is built on the mercy of God. They will come to realize their total dependence upon their Creator, LORD, and Savior. They will believe in the words of Jesus and trust in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of their sins. They will receive the gift of everlasting life in presence of Jesus in heaven.  

Our BOLD Outreach Promise from God: 

When we faithfully share God’s word with others, God has promised to open the hearts of the spiritually blind. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God the Father will give faith to those who call out to Him for mercy and He will lead them to saving faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.