Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 103

v. 2-4: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits;

who pardons ALL your iniquities

who heals ALL your diseases;

who redeems your life from the pit, 

who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion. 

vv. 10-13: 

he has not dealt with us according to our sins...just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.  For He Himself knows our frame.  He is mindful that we are but dust.  

I recently heard a sermon where the pastor said something that really struck me.   Biblically speaking, we all know that at the core of Christianity is the gospel.  The good news of Jesus Christ and Salvation we get through his shed blood and resurrection from the dead.   Then there are the things on the outskirts or margins.  Aspects of how we walk this Christian life.  But sometimes we get so passionate about a certain cause for Christ that lies in this margin area.  It might be a really REALLY good thing, too.  Urban ministries.  Children/family discipleship.  Social injustice.  Overseas missions.  All things we are called to address.  But then the gospel becomes assumed, taken for granted, and moves to the margins, while those other issues move to the core center of our lives and daily focus.  

These verses in Psalm 103 (and these are just a few excerpts, the whole chapter is amazing!) really draw my mind back to the core of the gospel.  The bedrock on which my entire faith in God is built.  He pardons, heals, redeems and crowns.  That cannot be just assumed or taken for granted.  I am continually needing to be reminded of this, and must make it the thing on which all of my margin-ministries are grounded.  Or else it means nothing.  

I want to keep this Psalm on my lips daily.  With my soul blessing the Lord with EVERYTHING that is in me. 

Another of my favorite songs is entitled, "With Everything." [by: hillsong]

Open our hearts,
To see the things
That make Your heart cry,
To be the church
The You would desire.
Light to be seen.

Break down our pride,
And all the walls
We've built up inside,
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires,
We lay at Your feet.

So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.

God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.

With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.

With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.

Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.

Amen.