Whence Comes Our Salvation?

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

It is good to read works of our forefathers in the faith. Today I take time to reflect upon one of the men who shaped our faith, a man whose life was so much like ours, from a sinful, prideful life, to one of great devotion to God. A prolific writer, yet much unknown in his time. A fighter for truth against the heresies of his day. Augustine or as known in the Roman Catholic Church, St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.). I will quote from his work, Confessions.

"The house of my soul is too narrow for you to come into me; let it be enlarged by you. It is in ruins, restore it. There is much about it which must offend your eyes; I confess and know it. but who will cleanse it? or, to whom shall I cry but to you? Cleanse me from my secret faults lord, and keep back you servant from strange sins. I believe, and therefore I speak. but you know lord. Have I not confessed my transgressions to you, my god; and have you not put away the iniquity of my heart? I do not contend in judgment with you, who are truth itself; and I would not deceive myself, lest my iniquity lie even to itself. I do not, therefore, contend in  judgment with you, for 'if you, lord, should mark iniquities, lord, who shall stand?" (Confessions, 1.5.6). "Still, dust and ashes as I am, allow me to speak before your mercy. Allow me to speak, for, behold, it is to your mercy that I speak and not to a man who scorns me." (Confessions, 1.6.7).

"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand?" But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning" (Psalm 130: 3-6).

This is our God, His love reaches higher than the heavens. He has forgiven us of our iniquities, He has gone before us to prepare a place for us. This day for many churches is mid-week services, Bible study, have you planned, prepared, to be present with your brothers and sisters: "He replied to him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12: 48-50). Become intentional, make time, let go of excuses, come and be equipped for ministry, come and encourage your family, your true brothers and sisters, they/we need you and you need them. How we live out our faith demonstrates to our children, family, and friends, come not out of duty, but out of love for our Savior, and our family.

Daily Prayer:

Thank you Father for men who loved You so much they risked everything to learn of You and teach of You, so that we can come to a deeper knowledge of You. Help me as I contend with the distractions that keep me from You and from being an encourager. I pray that Your love will be demonstrated through my life.  Amen