SCRIPTURE: Psalm 26
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. [Psalm 26:11] Is David saying he is sinless, that he deserves God’s help because he is a good person? David is not saying that he has attained sinless perfection, so that God has to help him; David is saying that he is being falsely accused and attacked, and that he is innocent of their accusations. David’s heart is not only in the right place, he is zealous for living a good and honourable life. He takes his faith and life seriously, he strives with all his heart to do what is right. His heart is not perfect, but it is going in the right direction.

That is what makes these accusations and attacks so hard; he pleads with God to vindicate him, to help him. It makes me think of a youth worker who invested his time and heart at a youth center in a high need area. One of the girls falsely accused him of abuse, and though the truth eventually came out, he went through a terrible time in the process. He was innocent, he was devoted to that cause, and that girl, and his efforts were being undermined by these false accusations. You can imagine him saying, Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life [Psalm 26:1].

A non-Jewish centurion comes to Jesus for help, his servant is sick and dying. Apparently he is a good man – even the Jews see this: When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” [Luke 7:4-5]. Jesus affirms this man’s good heart: When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” [Luke 7:9] No person ever attains sinless perfection, and no person deserves God’s mercy or help. But He does see into the heart, He does know whether the person is sincere and serious about God and living a good life.

God can see into your heart, and mine. Of course He sees our failures, He knows our sins and our mistakes. But He also knows whether we hate them, whether we are seriously trying to overcome them, whether in the core of our being we want to love Him and do what is good. Those whose hearts are in the right place, and who have a humble faith like this centurion, and demonstrate that good heart in doing what is good, they can approach God in times of hardship or struggle and plead with Him for mercy, not based on their perfection but on their strong desire for faith and goodness. God and Jesus can see our hearts, what does He see?

PRAYER:
Lord, You know my heart, You know my sin, and the seriousness with which I strive to love and serve You. I want to love and serve You more!