Psalm 101: ¹ I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing. ² I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; ³ I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. 

This psalm is attributed to King David. Verse 2 jumped out at me today. “When shall I attain it?” Reading the rest of the psalm I get the impression David is promising a correction in his conduct and relationship with the Lord. He expresses a deep desire to do right in the eyes of God, but he keeps getting off track. “When shall I attain it?” In other words, when will I finally follow through with my good intentions of fidelity to you, O God? When I finally resist the sin that holds me back? When will I be “blameless”?

Answer: never.

David never did attain that which he names here. Like everyone else, David was in bondage to sin and could not free himself. Trying harder doesn’t really get us anywhere if we’re depending on our resolve alone to see us through. That’s why I’m so grateful for Jesus Christ, who paid the price for my sin on the cross and gave to me (and all believers) my identity as child of God, and eternal life. Without Jesus I have nothing. Because of Jesus, I have everything! Thanks be to God!