On Trial
I remember as a kid my babysitter liked Perry Mason – a legal drama series on CBS television. Perry Mason was a defense attorney that always won the case. He would find that his client was innocent. Later on, I grew to like Matlock, where Andy Griffith played Ben Matlock, a defense attorney. This show was similar to Perry Mason in format. Then a few years later, Law & Order came on. I am a sucker for legal dramas. I remember at one point being summoned to serve on a jury and I learned very quickly that it wasn’t like television.
David penned a Psalm that reminded me of the courtroom. I was reminded that I’m on trial with my everyday life. Check this out…
1 Declare me innocent, O Lord,
for I have acted with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to your truth.
11 ….. I live with integrity.
So redeem me and show me mercy.
12 Now I stand on solid ground,
and I will publicly praise the Lord. (Psalm 26:1-3, 11b-12 NLT)
I do welcome the Lord to cross-examine my heart. He knows me like no one else. He knows my motives. He knows my deepest thoughts. He is also full of love and mercy. He is both the judge and my attorney. He argues the case for my innocence because of my forgiveness purchased by His Son. He declares me innocent because of Jesus. That’s the ONLY WAY that I’m innocent. I have learned and I’m still learning that I will never be “good enough” to be saved. I could NEVER be good enough to deserve to be declared innocent. I’m forgiven because the Lord made a way for me to be forgiven. I will declare in open court that I’m a mess inside at times. The only way I appear to have it together is because my “attorney” Jesus is holding me together and He has made His case for my heart before the Lord. I have been found not guilty because of Jesus.
Pressing On!
Dwayne