Prayer for Tuesday:
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole being longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.
Lord, who shall abide in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Your holy hill? They that walk uprightly, and do righteousness, and speak the truth in their hearts.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. In Christ's Name, Amen.
Scripture Reading for Tuesday: Galatians 5-6, Ephesians 1-2
Scripture Reflection for Tuesday: Today our Bible reading covers Galatians 5-6 and Ephesians 1-2. In Galatians 5, we see that a Christian’s liberty in Christ is the means whereby she stands fast against all that would enslave. The goal of the Enemy is to bring the believer into spiritual bondage, thereby robbing the soul of enjoyment in Christ. But her defense is the very liberty she has in Christ. Christ sets believers free from the law’s demand for perfect obedience by giving that perfect obedience on our behalf, forming the basis for their justification and thus the basis for standing fast against all that would enslave. Do you know this struggle personally? To whom do you look for defense and liberty?
In Galatians 6, we see that the one matter in which the believer may rightfully boast is the work of Christ. Paul repudiates all thoughts of glorying or boasting in anything except “the cross,” the finished work of Christ. In that work no man had any part, for Christ alone was qualified to make satisfaction for sin. Therefore, in the work of the cross the believer may boast without sinning. What is it about the cross that excites the Christian to rejoice, exalt, and praise the Lord?
In Ephesians 1, we see that the gospel whets our appetite for God. Take Paul’s prayer in this chapter and make it into your prayer for yourself and other believers. Stir up your heart with the glory of God’s grace to desire to know Him better. Pray fervently for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to give you more illumination about the riches of Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 2, we see that believers are richer than kings. They are joined with none other than Jesus Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places. They are re-created with the risen Christ as their Adam. God will show how great He is by pouring out kindness upon them for all eternity. All of this is by grace through the great sufferings of Christ on the cross. If we are truly saved, we should bless God and sing His praises all our lives.
Daily Teaching (Catechism) for Tuesday:
(2.1) The Lord our God is one, the only living and true God (1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; Deuteronomy 6:4). He is self-existent (Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12) and infinite in being and perfection. His essence cannot be understood by anyone but him (Exodus 3:14). He is a perfectly pure spirit (John 4:24). He is invisible and has no body, parts, or changeable emotions. He alone has immortality, dwelling in light that no one can approach (1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16). He is unchangeable,6 immense,b,7 eternal,8 incomprehensible, almighty,9 in every way infinite, absolutely holy,10 perfectly wise, wholly free, completely absolute (Malachi 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23; Psalm 90:2; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah 6:3). He works all things according to the counsel of his own unchangeable and completely righteous will (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10) for his own glory (Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36). He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and patient. He overflows with goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who seek him diligently (Exodus 34:6, 7; Hebrews 11:6). At the same time, he is perfectly just in his judgments (Nehemiah 9:32, 33). He hates all sin (Psalm 5:5, 6) and will certainly not clear the guilty (Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2, 3). Turn to Christ and be saved!
May God help you to grow in Christ today,
