Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 9:13-16
Ps 9:13-16
Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
1 Thess 2:3-6
For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
In my time, I have been acquainted with some people who have been devout, giving themselves to the Lord and proclaiming his word. They have done this with no desire to please people or build a personal following with what they taught. It was solely their desire to please the Lord by declaring his truth with love and in kindness. The only reward they wanted was that which comes from God.
On the other hand, I have known some who seemed to be more inclined to teach in a way that would build their reputation and give them control over others. It was as Paul said to the Galatians that some were trying to build their following so they could be glorified in the sight of others. Their ministry seemed to be more about themselves than it was about Jesus or teaching purity and love.
I don’t know the hearts of others, so I will leave that up to God to judge. But I do encourage all of us to live a life set on serving Jesus. It must be based on faith in him and his sacrifice for our sins. On that faith, it is a life built on love for God and then a love for other people. It does not matter what race or ethnic background they may be; we are to love them and seek their good. There is no place for hatred or prejudice in the hearts of the follows of Jesus. We are to love like God.
O Lord God give me a heart of love, love for you and love for all the people that come into my life. Help me guard my mouth to not speak evil of others or gossip about them. I ask you to be with those who are hurting, those who are sick, and those who are being treated for cancer. Be with the ones who are getting over surgery and those who are about to have it. I ask your mercy on those who have been displaced by weather events and fires. Use me to help where and how I can. Be with your people everywhere. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
