Read Psalm 66:16-20. 16Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Earlier the invitation was from Israel to the world – Come and see (v.5). Now it is from the psalmist to those who fear God – Come and hear. The psalmist’s testimony isn’t just about an answered prayer request, but, more importantly a restored relationship. The heart’s iniquity has been repented of and God’s covenant love has remained.
How much more should our union with Christ produce a call for others to hear of the faithful work of God in our lives. It is not our repentance, nor our purity of heart that has kept God’s steadfast love upon us, but rather the iniquity free heart of Jesus. A heart God has now joined to ours so that at our standing before the Father is as unbreakable as the Son’s.
Our prayers are as impossible for God to reject as Jesus’ own prayers.
Our position in God’s love is secure as Christ’s.
To live is Christ allows us to honestly face our sinful heart, not from fear of rejection, but from the freedom of new covenant grace.
You: Do you ever fear rejection by God? On what basis?
You in Christ: How does your union with Christ allow you to confront your own soul and enjoy the presence of God?
Christ in you: Is there a sin that you need to confess today that maybe you have been afraid of bringing before God?
Pray: Father, your praise is on my tongue! For you have saved my soul and placed your own steadfast love within me in Christ. Teach me to confront my heart from this freedom. Amen.
To Live is Christ 