July 26 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 51:

¹Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
⁴Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
⁹Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
¹⁵O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
¹⁸Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Devotional

Is not that a contradiction? Is not that the same as saying: Happy are they that are sorrowful? Can one be happy and sor­rowful at the same time? Yes, a Christian can. Does not Paul say, "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing?" A Christian may experience deep sorrow for his sins; but he has the assurance of forgiveness. He may pass through great tribulation that causes sorrow and grief; but God sends deliverance. God does not want his children to go through this life mourning. He wants to comfort all that mourn. "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified." Jesus said to his disciples, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." Again He says, "Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh." Paul says, "As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." God knows how to comfort. He says, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice." The God of all comfort comforts us in all our tribulation.

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting con­solation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for Thy rich and everlasting comfort, Thou hast given unto us in Thy holy Word. May we experience that comfort from day to day, that even in our sorrows and tribulations we may be able to rejoice and to praise Thy name. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so may our consolation also abound by Christ. As we are par­takers of the sufferings, so also may we be partakers of the con­solation, and thus be enabled to endure into the end. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 2 Cor. 6:10; Isa. 61:2, 3; John 16:20; Luke 6:21; 2 Cor. 1:7; Isa. 66:13, 14; 2 Cor. 1:3, 4; Rev. 21:4; 2 Thess. 2:16, 17.

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