BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 26

Subtitle: Walking In the Security of God’s Mercy

Psalm 26:1-3 (By David.) “Judge me favorably, O LORD, because I have walked with integrity and I have trusted you without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and test me. Look closely into my heart and mind. I see your mercy in front of me. I walk in the light of your truth.” (God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)

God is merciful. He does not give us what we deserve. Instead, He extends mercy to those who trust in Him. David does not ask God to judge him fairly, or to give him what he deserves, but to judge him FAVORABLY, out of the abundance of God’s mercy. David’s claim is God’s truth; those who call on the name of the LORD will be redeemed, forgiven, cared for, and set free from the guilt of their sins. The integrity that David walked in is a relationship of dependence upon God’s mercy. He trusted in the promise of deliverance, and even though he would have been found guilty in the eyes of many, he submitted to God’s merciful judgment, where he received redemption and forgiveness.

This is our outreach promise. God in His mercy forgives those who call upon Him, trust in Him, and depend on Him for their salvation from sin. There is no other way to be forgiven. Forgiveness only comes from one source, Jesus Christ who died for our sins. Forgiveness is only given to those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Forgiveness of sin comes from God, through Jesus Christ, and is given to those who trust in Him for their salvation. It cannot be earned! It cannot be bought by some price, such as, living a saintly life! It only comes as a gift to those who recognize that they are incapable of inquiring on their own.

^“But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13 (King James Version)

God will forgive the humble, those whose hearts are broken before Him. He promises to forgive the sins of all who call out to Him for mercy. If you know this to be true in your life, BOLDly give witness to others, that they may hear its “good news”.