Beloved, salvation is at hand, if you will listen. Asaph, of Psalm 81, considers God’s offer.

¹ Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
² Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

⁸ “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!
O Israel, if you will listen to Me!
⁹ There shall be no foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
¹⁰ I am the Lord your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

But sometimes, we’re not too ready to listen, and for this, there is always consequence.

¹¹ “But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.
¹² So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.

And the psalmist laments.

¹³ “Oh, that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
¹⁵ The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,
But their fate would endure forever.
¹⁶ He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

It sounds like these people need Jesus. It sounds like I need Him too. Let us pray.

Dear Lord and heavenly Father,

Hallowed be Your name. Father God, You alone, through Your Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit have provided salvation. Only that we would listen. Thank you for sending Jesus. Jesus, thank you for Your profound and perfect work. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for working Christ in me, for if left to myself, I would not. I rejoice in this salvation. Be with me till the end and into eternity. In Jesus name, Amen.