Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that you do not treat us as we deserve. You have been kind to us, you have been merciful to us; time and time again after you have been good to us; but, we have turned away from you, we have rebelled against you, we have grieved your holy spirit and we are thankful that you are merciful and gracious, and that you are slow to anger and abounding in mercy, therefore, teach us to fear your name.

I will bless the Lord at all times because he is good, I will serve him from a pure heart and I will never forget his benefits. He has forgiven all my iniquities, he has healed all my diseases, he redeemed my life from destruction, he crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies, he satisfies my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like an eagle’s. My brothers and sisters in Christ, there are benefits to serving the Lord, nothing good will he withhold from those who trust him and walk in his way.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Then, my head will be held high above my enemies around me. At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.”

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I will study your commandments and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Be good to your servant that I may live and keep your word. Psalm 119

“My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, which among us would have been chosen to replace Judas in this ministry? From the outward appearance many of us would have been seen as the ideal choice, but God would have rejected us, because he knows our hearts are not right. Let us strive every day to be more Christ-like, so that what is revealed in our outward appearance would be a reflection of what is coming from our hearts; for we are reminded in Luke 6:45, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the Lord does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

There are some of us who claim that we are pure in our own eyes, yet, we are filthy, but we read in Luke 15: 16; “So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be careful that we do not attempt to justify ourselves, believing that we are perfect in our own eyes, for then, our own mouths will condemn us, and our own lips will testify against us.

Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 18