by Read Psalm 103.
When it comes to being a believer, are we able to spell it out if someone asks, “What are the benefits of Christianity?” Most may only be able to respond with one word, “Heaven.” If we are honest, we tend to forget the privileges which are ours because of our poor relationship with the One who saved us. When we forget, we are in danger of viewing our Christian life as a drudging duty or obligation, putting us in danger of losing the joy of our salvation. David is very familiar with this, as he outlined in Psalm 51. Then in Psalm 103, David spells out some benefits, by reminding us from Heaven above, to “forget not all his benefits.”
The Christian life has many requirements and responsibilities, but it also has many benefits. Our benefits were secured for us by the person and work of Jesus Christ — forgiveness, redemption, adoption, atonement, justification, sanctification, glorification, heaven, peace, the Holy Spirit, etc. Yes, the Christian life is wrapped around what we must do for God, but we must never lose sight of what God has done for us.
David lists five benefits in Psalm 103:
- Forgiveness of sin (103:3a) “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities”
- Healing of disease (103:3b) “who healeth all thy diseases”
- Redemption of life (103:4a) “Who redeemeth thy life from destruction”
- Crown of love and mercy (103:4b) “who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies”
- Satisfaction with good things (103:5) “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
David said that God alone “satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” (103:9). In verse 5, David said God’s satisfaction makes us as an eagle, just as the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
What a tremendous promise of true joy and satisfaction. However, until we give God His rightful place in our lives, we can never be satisfied. Do you remember that first time you knew and felt the joy of salvation and satisfaction, when you were renewed like the eagles?
