Wanna know what a man looks like who has not only met the Lord, but has also been molded by the Lord? Wanna see what a woman looks like whose character has been shaped by the marvelous light into which she’s been brought into by faith? Then chew on Psalm 112 for a bit.

That guy delights in God’s commands and deals generously with others. That gal conducts her affairs with justice and remains confident amidst bad news.

But there’s one part of the bio that arrests my attention. And it causes me to pause before for I shade it too quickly with my red colored pencil (the color for “the people of God”, those washed in the blood). Had to do a double take before proceeding. Apparently, the same sort of thing happened 14 years ago. Here’s how I wrote about it on May 14, 2010.

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Okay, so as much I determine to be “fully engaged” in my morning readings, sometimes I do end up a bit on “autopilot”. Reading — even underlining with my colored pencils — but not really “all there” at certain points. Such was the case this morning. But when I “came to,” when focus was restored, I had been reminded of a pretty amazing truth.

So, here’s how it went down . . .

I start in on my last reading, Psalm 112 (I have 4 readings each morning laid out for me in The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan). It’s kind of at this point that I guess I’m somewhat on autopilot. I underline the first three words, “Praise the Lord”, with a brown colored pencil as I’m on the watch for verses relating to praise and worship (there’s a few of those verses in the Psalms). I read on and then I underline that last part of verse 4, “He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” I underline it in blue, ’cause that’s the color I use for verses about God. I recognize these words as the descriptors used by God Himself, about Himself, when He revealed His glory to Moses (Exodus 33:19, 34:6). They’re underlined there in blue, too. Yesterday I came across them in Psalm 111:4 and colored them blue there, as well. So, I read them here in Psalm 112 and I color them blue again. But then, as I read on, and my mind starts to fully engage, I realize something: Psalm 112 isn’t about God, it’s about a man.

“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments
. . . he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.”

(Psalm 112:1b, 4b ESV)

And it’s a bit of a “wow” moment for me. Yeah, that’s exactly what happens to the man, or woman, who has been brought into relationship with the Lord — to the one who fears the Lord; to the one who loves His word and pursues Him. God works an “extreme makeover” in their lives such that they start to reflect something of the glory of God in their character, in how they’re now spiritually wired.

This guy described in Psalm 112 that I underlined in blue is the product of God’s sanctification. His righteousness, imparted by faith, becomes a reality in how he lives. The grace he has been shown by God, starts emerging more and more in how he relates to others. The mercy of God which has so radically changed his life, becomes more and more the filter through which he sees others. These attributes, indicators of the glory of God, show themselves increasingly in the one who pursues God.

So, my bit of “brain fade” this morning — my mistake in underlining a verse about a man with the “color” of God — was used, I believe, by the Spirit of God to grab hold of me and evoke a bit of “awe factor.” To generate some praise and worship with the reminder that God has undertaken a work in my life, and in the lives of all those who love Him.

“For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”

(Romans 8:29 ESV)

Or, as Peterson puts it:

“God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son.”

(Romans 8:29 MSG).

God has undertaken a work by which He has determined to weave His character into ours. To make us more like Himself. How amazing is that? Pretty amazing!

Praise the Lord! Blessed is this man! He is more gracious today than yesterday, by the grace of God. He understands mercy more today than he used to, through the mercies of God. He desires to order his life in righteousness because of the righteousness of God credited to him by God through faith in Christ. This man is way far from being perfect, he has still such a long way to go, but oh, he is so confident that the work which God has begun in him, God will complete in him (Phil. 1:6).

Just color me blue!

Again (2024 add).

By His grace. For His glory.

Amen?