December 16, 2015

“Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting” (Daniel 5:27; NIV).

            Today’s Bible verse is from the story of the writing on the wall. In it, the ‘finger of God’ writes on the wall and Daniel interprets the words as a judgment on the king of Babylon.

            Today’s devotional thought is this: no matter how carefully we prepare, we—when left to our own devices—will always be found wanting, too. It won’t do to think that our repentance or our devotion to God’s Word will lead us to a righteousness that He finds sufficient. Isaiah comments, “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

            So, repentance is needed. God desires it. “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you do not despise” (Psalm 51:17). But it doesn’t earn us points with God. In the same way, Bible reading and worship are needed. But they don’t get us credit before God. No, Bible reading and worship are important because through His Word God delivers to us—free of charge—exactly what we need. God’s Word creates repentance within us, knocking down the idols of our hearts by His law. And God’s Word delivers grace to us, creating new life in us, without any merit or worthiness in us.

            We will always be found wanting, but God in His mercy will fill up what we lack.