April 4 | Psalm 146

PRAYER PRACTICE

SPOKEN PRAYER: Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

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DAILY READING

Psalm 146

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REFLECTION

We Will Be Like Him

by Dave Mann

Psalm 146 is a wonderful song in which we sing of the great works of God. Today, however, I am struck by how often the Lord encourages us to be like him, to join him in his work. There are many passages in which we are called to do similar things that Psalm 146 proclaims God is doing. When we are called to become disciples of Jesus, we are encouraged to be like our master (Luke 6:40). On the final day, we will indeed be like Jesus when we see him face to face (1 John 3:2). Yes, I know that it is hard to imagine that we sinful humans will be like the Lord Jesus eventually. But it is a promise that we can anticipate. His attitudes and behaviors are part of our future.

See these comparisons of what the Lord does and what he, in turn, calls us to do as we join him in his work.

Psalm 146:6 He is the Maker…

2 Timothy 3:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman…

Psalm 146:7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed

Proverbs 19:17 He who is generous to the poor lends to the Lord.

Psalm 146:7 He gives food to the hungry

Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food.

Psalm 146:7 He sets prisoners free

Matthew 25:36 I was in prison and you visited me.

Psalm 146:8 the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down

Romans 12:16 Associate with the lowly.

Psalm 146:8 The Lord loves the righteous

Galatians 6:10 let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of

the household of faith.

Psalm 146:9 the Lord watches over the foreigner

Exodus 23:9 You shall not oppress a sojourner.

Psalm 146:9 He sustains the fatherless and the widow

James 1:18 Religion that is pure and undefiled before the Father is this: to visit

orphans and widows in their affliction.

Lord Jesus, your character and your acts are far superior to what we dare hope to attain. But your Word states (and your Word does not return void) that we will, in the end, be like you, our Master. What a glorious day that will be! We will give you all the glory for the miracle of the transformation of our character. All praise to you, Lord Jesus. Amen.