W. Robert Godfrey

Colonies founded to be a light on a hill to the rest of the world so that they might know Jesus Christ.

The errand into the wilderness so that God's word could be followed.

And now, in many of those places, the most unchristian parts of the country.

And where is the pleading that the Lord would send his spirit?

You know, I think a really important moment for us as Christians in our time is...

We not allow ourselves to be angry culture warriors.

but we become prayerful, loving, concerned people that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ might be known far and wide.

Because that's all that's really going to change things.

We have to plead, as the psalmist is showing us how to plead for that.

And what's encouraging then is he shows us in this pattern where the solution will be.

Verse 8, "'Let me hear what God the Lord will speak.'"

for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints.

But let them not turn back to folly.

The word of grace is never a word that says, okay, you're now forgiven, so it's fine with me if you live anywhere you want.

That is not the way the Lord operates.

He never operates that way.

The Lord said, I'm willing to forgive you your sins, but you need to recognize they're sins.

And sins are folly, and folly leads to disaster.

And that's why our Reformed tradition has been equally adamant in saying we must get justification right and God's free grace, but we must also get sanctification right, that we need to pursue holiness.

God is holy.