Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 39:1-6
Ps 39:1-6
I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
One of the most intriguing questions of the ages is “why?”. Why are we here on earth? What is the meaning of our life? Why do good people suffer? Why do young people die? Why is “this” happening to me? Why my child? Why? Why? Why? And the list of why’s goes on and on. While complex, it is simple.
We are here on earth to honor God and to bring glory to him. We do this when we trust him as God, when we respect him as God, and when we obey him as God. The meaning of life then is to become prepared to be like Jesus as we get ready to live with him in eternity. In that sense, life is not about this world but in another way, it is all about how we live on earth and what we do with our lives while we are here. God made us in his likeness to live with him forever.
So, why all the pain and suffering? Why is life so unfair? The answer may be sin, maybe your own or maybe the sin of someone else. The answer may be that we just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, so we had the accident or we caught the virus, or we were infected by the parasite, or whatever. Most often, we never know the “why” for sure, but we can trust God because of it and then use our experiences to help others trust him as they see our faith.
O Lord my Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! Yours is the glory! In Jesus your Son is eternal life. Thank you for forgiving me for all the things I have done against your will and for the many times I have failed to be what you want me to be. Keep me from putting out the Spirit’s fire that you have ignited in me, so he can mold me into your likeness more and more each day. Thank you for my family and for so many wonderful friends that bring me so much joy. Help me share your joy, your peace, and your love with others. In Jesus name.
Robert
