Not a Nickel’s Worth of Difference

Meditations on Christ in the Psalms 

September 22, 2022

Not a Nickel’s Worth of Difference

These wicked people are born sinners;

even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

Psalm 58:3

For the followers of Christ who are seeking to live in grace, Psalm 58 presents a bit of a challenge. Although it was by grace that Israel was chosen to be God’s people, and it was by grace that David was selected by God to be King, the people of ancient Israel pretty much lived by reward and punishment: “Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God” (Psalm 58: 11a)

However, we need to remember that there is not a nickel’s worth of difference between us and the born sinners, snakes, and snails of Psalm 58, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23). However, Jesus took upon himself all the sin described in Psalm 58: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners” (Romans 5:6).

As Christ followers, Psalm 58 can help us remember that we always need to hold onto the grace that saved us. When we do yield to the temptations of sin, we can rush to God, remembering, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9).

Psalm 58 is also a call to remember that there will be a final judgment; “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body” (1 Corinthians 5:10).

My Takeaway: How many people do we know who are not living in the saving grace of Jesus? Perhaps today is a good day to renew, or begin, our prayers for them. Let’s ask God to show us how we can be a positive influence in their life and let God use us as His prevenient grace to draw them to His unfailing love.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.