Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 31:14-18
Ps 31:14-18
But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
1 Peter 4:14-16
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
David was persecuted for his faith in God. Even at an early age, his own brothers chastised him and ridiculed him when he even thought about going to fight against the giant in the army of the Philistines. He only treated King Saul with honor and respect, yet he turned on him and tried to kill him, all because he was faithful to God. Saul was afraid of David because he knew God was with him.
If you don’t want trouble, don’t rock the boat! Don’t even think about trusting God enough to kill the giant. Jesus rocked the boat in his time and the religious leaders were the ones who came after him with a vengeance. They had things the way they wanted it, and the people fell in line, following them blindly; but then came this Jesus telling the people to just follow God instead of the traditions.
Our goal as a Christian should be to glorify God in the name of Christ. When we do good works in his name, God is glorified. When we encourage the weak to be strong, we glorify God. When we take the side of the abused or mistreated, we bring glory to God in the name of Jesus. But since the persecutor and abuser is often tied closely with those in power, it can land you in trouble.
Study God’s word and think for yourself. Listen to others, but only in light of what the Bible says. When you form your convictions, stand for them, even if you don’t agree with the majority. But remember, you may be wrong so keep studying.
My God and my Father, holy and reverend is your name! Keep my heart set on bringing honor to you and to your matchless name in what I believe, in all I do, and in all I say. Help me remember that being different just to be different has no value, but at the same time I know that being a Christian will make me different from the world around me. Thank you for all you have given me in my life and for all the times you have protected me and carried me through problems. Thank you for my physical and my spiritual families. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
