Daily Dose of the Word of God: Psalm 51:15-17 Artwork

Elmhurst CRC

Welcome to Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church! Here you will find the audio version of the messages from the weekend services taught by Pastor Gregg DeMey and Pastor Jeff Klein with occasional guest pastors, as well as our weekday devotionals. We hope you enjoy the messages and are encouraged by God’s Word.

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Elmhurst CRC

Daily Dose of the Word of God: Psalm 51:15-17

November 15, 2024 • Erin Pacheco • Season 1 • Episode 744

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the Word of God. It's Friday, November 15, and Sunday is coming. I'm Erin Pacheco.

Our Scripture today is from Psalm 51: 15-17,
"Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise."

We've been reflecting this week on sacrifices and burnt offerings and generosity and the way God shows up and blesses His people when they give their first fruits to him and to others. There's a lot in the Bible on this topic, and yet, here in Psalm 51 we hear King David in a vulnerable moments of confession and repentance, recognizing that ultimately, what God is looking for is our hearts, however broken, however fragile, however burdened by our sin, our worries, our griefs. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God is after our hearts, because it's only when we realize our deep dependence on God that we are ready to give our best back to him, our tithes, our offerings, our first fruits, our time, our resources, whatever is most valuable to us, whatever we depend on for comfort and security because God in Christ, has already given it all for us, and He will provide for all of our needs out of His grace and His abundant riches and glory. As we prepare to gather for worship this weekend, are you ready to surrender your heart to God? And what tangible outward action might be a sign of that inward surrender?

Let's pray. God thank you that you welcome the sacrifice of my broken heart, that you will not turn me away in my time of need. God, today, I surrender myself to you. Help me to trust you and wait on you for every good and perfect gift comes from you, and you can do immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine. I am eager to see what you will do as I surrender my heart to you. Amen.