‘Thy’ Salvation
by Jon Walker

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalms 51:12 KJV)

Over the years, I’ve mis-read and mis-heard Psalm 51:12, thinking it meant: «Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.»

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of people mis-live the verse, too.

The difference between ‘my’ and ‘thy’ may seem like simple semantics, but the chasm between them is actually so vast that the only bridge capable of spanning the gap is the blood of Jesus Christ.

«My» salvation means I do it myself. I earn my salvation. I have a right to my salvation. It is mine, and it’s all about me.

«Thy» salvation is about God – his gift, his promise, his sacrifice, his love. It is his to bestow, because it’s not about you – or me – it’s about God and his grace.

This is important, related to the good news of the Gospel: If our joy about Jesus is based on what we’ve done, then we’ll always wonder if we’ve done enough. That joy is only temporary.

But if our Jesus joy is based on the grace of God, it’s permanent – «it is finished.» (John 19:30)

If you’re struggling to sense the joy of his salvation, perhaps you’re still seeing it as yours and not his: «Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.» (Psalms 51:12 NIV)

So what?

· Rely on God’s work – God began a good work in you and he will «carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.» (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

· God’s spirit sustains you – Your ability to walk as a Christian is dependent upon God’s spirit within you and your willingness to stay close to God. It is not based on your strength and efforts. «Grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.» (Psalm 51:12b NIV)

· Pray – Father, I pray that you renew a right spirit within me, a spirit not born of fear, or from self-sufficiency, or from an ungodly independence. Fill me with your spirit of love and grace, as I rely upon you to restore unto me the joy of your salvation.

© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.