Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"--and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

The one who is forgiven is described as the one in whose spirit is no deceit and the one who is godly. We spoke yesterday of being righteous by being forgiven. When God forgives, we are forgiven. He has promised and he is faithful. But God expects us to take this forgiveness and then as Jesus told the lady; “go and sin no more”. This same thought is worded by John as “walking in the light” and by Paul as “living up to the standard to which we have attained”. This kind of life for God is motivated by our faith in him. It is also motivated by our love for him as well as our respect for him and his promise of reward (living with him and in his presence – eternally).

Yes, we will sometimes fail in our attempt to be like him. We will face problems in our service to him. We can know for sure (because his word tells us) that the more we become like God in our daily lives, the more Satan will attempt to try to get us to leave God. One of the ways that Satan does this is to use the assurance that God gives us to make us lax in our commitment and then transfer in our minds this confidence to ourselves and our own godliness rather than trusting in God. 

Paul tells us that when this happens, we have put our trust in our own works and have fallen from grace. As one person put it, when we become proud of our humility, we have just lost it. David, the Psalmist and king of Israel, made this mistake and became proud instead of giving God the glory. Whatever we have, or we are or we become, we must realize it is from God and give him thanks and all glory.

Lord God, giver of life, creator of all things, I thank you for all things. My very existence is from you. Please help me to open my heart to your will and allow your Spirit to use me for your purpose and to your glory. Help me to understand that as you are love, so I must love also. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we honor him in our lives today.