Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 85:8-13
Ps. 85:8-13
8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints--but let them not return to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. 13 Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
John 14:22-24
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Solomon said that the whole purpose of our existence is to fear God and keep his commandments. Another way of saying the same thing is that all we do and say is to be done to the glory of God as our Lord. When King Saul partially obeyed and then ignored part of what God told him to do, Samuel the prophet told him that obedience to God is better than offering sacrifices for forgiveness. Jesus says that if we really love God, we will obey him in everything without exception.
What we see in God’s dealing with Israel and his dealings with us today is his love and his grace but also his justice. He continually forgave Israel and as long as we are seeking him and walking in his light, he continues to forgive us through the blood of Jesus today. It is when we reject him and follow our own ways and seek to satisfy our own desires instead of following his will that he turns from us.
God’s love does not negate his justice. It was he who declared that the wages of sin is death. His Spirit inspired the writers of Scripture to give several lists of those who are showing rejection to his will that will not enter into heaven but be lost eternally. He wants us to be saved but we must love him enough to obey him.
Heavenly Father, it is with joy that I come to you, knowing you will take time to listen to me. This makes me feel really important because as the creator of all things, you care about me and have provided a way for me to talk to you now and to live with you in eternity. Thank you, Lord! Give me a heart that is set on doing your will as completely as possible in every way possible. Forgive me when I fail. But in all this, help me remember that I am nothing on my own, and only by grace I am your child and servant. Use me to reach out to do all I can to help others in whatever way I can help them. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
