Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 73:15-22
Ps 73:15-22
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
2 Cor 4:16-18
17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
When we look around us and see all of the people in the world, it seems that so many who have no regard for God are doing well for themselves. They seem to prosper and they live lives of ease. In contrast to this we see those who are seeking to serve the Lord and who stand for their convictions but who are having troubles and often faced with adversities. Why do good young people die while the wicked grow old? Why do babies have cancer? Is serving God worth it?
The psalmist found that the answers only come when we understand that life is not about the here and now. We only find consolation when we understand that life is about the things to come, the eternal. When we become jealous and we are embittered because of the wicked, we are senseless and ignorant. God sees all.
God uses all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. His purpose is that we have eternal life. With all we face here we are being tested, our faith is being strengthened and we are being made ready for that home with Jesus. While Jesus is our intercessor, our High Priest, our friend and our brother, he is above all else our Savior and he is preparing an eternal home for us to be with the Father forever. A home of joy awaits his own.
Heavenly Father give me eyes to see the unseen, a heart to feel the unknown and faith to believe that which is beyond my ability to comprehend. Help me keep all things in perspective so I am always looking to the eternal and staying focused on Jesus my Lord. This world and all it offers is alluring and would deceive me into thinking that this is all that matters but I know Jesus has overcome the world, sin and death. Use me and what you have given me to your glory by helping others see you also. Guide our leaders in your wisdom. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
