Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 80:16-19
Ps 80:16-19
16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish. 17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. 18 Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. 19 Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Rom 8:12-15
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
What a blessing to serve God! What a joy to know that he has made it possible for each of us to enjoy life eternal! This life is filled with sorrow, sickness pain and all kinds of injustice. This life gives us disappointments and frustrations which build in us to anxiety. But Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly.
This does not mean if we serve God, we will be healed from all our ailments and diseases. It does not mean by living for Jesus we will always be treated fairly or we will never be disappointed. But serving God in Jesus Christ gives us reason to live beyond what we see. It gives us hope beyond our physical bodies and riches that far exceed the most anyone can accumulate on this earth.
Jesus was treated unfairly and put to death for crimes that he did not commit. He was homeless for much of his adult life. He was hated by the establishment and a friend to those who were downtrodden. The people who surrounded him were the poor, considered as the lower ones socially. The religious leaders accused him of being a “friend of sinners” and he embraced that charge rather than deny it.
We can be like our Lord who ate dinner with the wealthy tax collectors, who met with the rich Pharisee but also touched the leper and the blind. He trusted God because he knew he was only on earth for a short time and then going to heaven forever. How long will you be here on earth? Where are you going when this life is over? We can live with the same faith and hope that Jesus did.
Heavenly Father I am thankful that this world is not my home and that you have shown me that I am just passing through for a few days. Thank you for making it possible for me to know I am going to your eternal home when this life is over and that I will be with you and with Jesus. What a glorious day that will be! While I am here, use me to your glory and to lead others to Jesus. Let me have a giving heart to share what you have provided me with those who are in need. Give us leaders in our land who respect you and your word. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
