April 17

Pleases God.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Psalms 119:1.

God adds the promise: "And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments." To whom is this promise given? To all those who love Him and keep His commandments. God hates all outward show and is not deceived or satisfied by merely outward works. He demands that the works should flow forth from the right fountain, that is, the proper intention, and be done with an upright heart. He is not satisfied with anything less. And we should not offer Him less. All our obedience to God, all the works we do according to His commandments, must be fruits of love and sincere adherence to God.

And to such pious and God-fearing people God has given the promise to show them mercy, grace, and every blessing. He first gave this promise to the children of Israel. And afterwards He often repeated it in the same and other words through Moses and the prophets. He showed them His bountiful mercy when He led them into a good country, overwhelmed their enemies, and gave them peace, health, and prosperity, — all this out of fatherly kindness and mercy and to make them willing to keep His commandments. And He keeps His promise. How gloriously and richly did He keep it with the children of Israel, far beyond their own merit and worthiness! When some one served Him devotedly and whole-heartedly, He often blessed such godliness for generations to come. And to this day God will make good His promise and richly reward all those who fear, love, and serve Him with an upright heart and walk in the way of His commandments. To this day He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. All true Christians do the works which God has commanded, and they abstain from the works which He has forbidden in His Law. Such keeping of the commandments pleases God. And His grace and divine mercy rewards our good works which His Holy Spirit has wrought in us.

Prayer.

Righteous God, merciful Father, in Thy sight nothing in all this world can avail except only the blood and death of Thy beloved Son, by which Thou hast prepared everlasting righteousness for all men, and Thou hatest all who trust in their own works: we thank Thee for Thy great mercy and pray Thee with all our heart graciously to keep us from unbelief, pride, presumption, also from despair and all vices. And make known to us Thy holy will that we may at all times know what is pleasing to Thee and be ever ready to meet Thee. Amen.

O Lord, how shall I meet Thee, How welcome Thee aright? All nations long to greet Thee, My Hope, my heart's Delight! O kindle, dearest Jesus, Thy lamp within my breast, That I may know what pleases Thee, Lord, my heavenly Guest.