Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 83:14-18
Ps 83:14-18
As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O Lord. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord — that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Matt 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
The Pharisees and the Scribes who lived in the time of Jesus were the religious leaders. They were the teachers, the preachers, and the rulers of the synagogues. As such, they were respected by the people. When they spoke, others listened to them. But these are the ones rebuked the most by our Lord. Over the years they had devised a set of rules that showed their holiness. They then enforced these rules on everyone. If anyone did not live up to them, they were the sinners.
The sad thing about this was that most of the things they said one needed to do or not do, was right, but it was just a set of rules and did not change the heart of a person. They viewed themselves as righteous and looked down on others with contempt and disdain. All they did was for self-gratification and outward looks.
Jesus said: “you have heard, but I say…” and then gave a number of things that went beyond the Law and changed the heart. He listed several things these men did to be considered righteous and said the only reward was that they were seen of other people as being righteous. He condemned their self-righteousness.
All we do is to be from a heart of love for God, with the intention of bringing honor to his name and to the name of Jesus. All of our good deeds are for the purpose of causing others to praise the Father in heaven, not so they will think we are really righteous. Paul said we have been created in Christ Jesus so that we will do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. We belong to Jesus, and we are to live in a way that every part of our lives honors him as Lord.
O Lord God, my heavenly Father, it is very humbling to realize your greatness, your goodness, and your holiness, especially when I compare that to myself. I have nothing to offer you from myself except my love for you and my devotion to serving you. In the words of the publican who prayed: “God be merciful to me the sinner.” Mold me Lord, to be what you want me to become, so I will do what you want me to do. Thank you for loving me. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
No devotional tomorrow.
