Clean Free Hands

His mercies are new this morning. They are right out of the oven mercy. Fresh. Warm. Wholesome. New.

"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' " - Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV

His quickening is real this morning.

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11 ESV

The Word is sharp and alive as ever.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 ESV

His faithfulness is not yesterday's news. It is today's reality.

"For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!" - Psalm 117:2 ESV

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;" - Isaiah 59:1 ESV

God's ears are awake and His arm is strong.

"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." - Psalm 121:4-8 ESV

He isn't sleeping. He hasn't forgotten us. He has been awake this whole time.

"If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;" - Psalm 130:3-5 ESV

New mercies mean new hope.

"A Song of Ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!" - Psalm 134 ESV

We let go of the old and lift holy hands. We don't want to hold on to that which is false and feed on ashes (see Isaiah 44:20).

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus" - Hebrews 12:1-2a ESV

Today we rise to drink the cup of salvation and rejoice in the freshness of who God Is and always will be. Today is a day to shake off the dust, cast all of our cares on Him and rejoice as we worship Him with clean free hands.

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