Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:137-144
Ps 119:137-144 Tsadhe
Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live.
1 Cor 2:9-12
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Jesus said he spoke in parables so that those who had some spiritual concern and insight would be able to understand his teaching, while those who did not have this would only hear a good story. We can read the Bible and appreciate the good poetry or the sublime prose or intense philosophy, but never grasp the true meaning of the message. We need the Spirit of God to open our minds.
As we allow the Spirit to dwell within us and work in us, we find that his wisdom instructs us to appreciate the godly, the moral, the upright and wholesome things that have been revealed to us. He empowers us to understand the way to accept the grace of God, revealed in his gospel. He moves us to obedience as we trust his strength instead of our own. He opens our minds to deeper truths as we grow.
Paul says that some have tried to accept the religion of Christ but have denied the power of it. He says they are filled with greed, selfishness, and all kinds of evil, but still hold to a form of godliness, while denying the power of God. The more we submit our will to his, the more we understand how to live like Christ.
Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for your love that provides salvation from sin for me in Jesus Christ. Thank you for giving your Spirit to live in me to mold me more and more into the likeness of Jesus. I pray that out of your glorious riches you will strengthen those who read this with power through your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. At this time when so many are graduating and moving into new areas of life, give them your wisdom and guide them to be faithful to you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
