Today’s Encouragement is Psalm 16:1-2 ESV Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
Apart from You –
You may have heard it, you may’ve said it – “If there’s any good in me, it’s Jesus.” This verse is the source, penned by David 3000 years ago… still and forever true.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” …We can do nothing! He also said, in Luke 18:19 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.’”
God alone is Good; Jesus and the Father are One. We can do nothing without Him; we have nothing good in us without Him!
And remember that the obverse is true… Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” And finally, 2 Corinthians 5:21b “…so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (note the keywords ‘through Him’ and ‘in Him’!)
Friends, as believers, God lives in and through us by His Holy Spirit. And we are His own. We are His righteousness, goodness, truth, love, and mercy… because Jesus lives within us!
Father God, help us to always remember that we are nothing without You, but because You have chosen us, placed Your Spirit within us, and You dwell in us… We are Your People, Your representatives, Your ambassadors, and Your Righteousness here on this earth.
Without You
Paul Baloche
Today’s Encouragement 