Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 118:22-29
Psalms 118:22-29
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
God had a plan for mankind from before the world began. His plan was for all who would trust him, serve him and be like him to live with him in eternity. However, God also knew that Satan would do his best to mess up that perfect plan for his creation. God made the earth and all that is in it, including mankind, even though he knew sin would destroy his perfection and therefore his fellowship with us. He had another plan that he kept to himself for many ages.
This plan was revealed through his prophets for many years in bits and pieces but even the ones who wrote it and spoke it did not understand what it meant. Even the angels wanted to know but could not understand. His plan was later revealed and explained to us when Jesus came into the world. But even then it took a long time for the most faithful and spiritual to grasp what it meant.
God had devised a plan whereby sin would be punished with death and those who lived by faith could be counted as righteous once again, in spite of the sin that had separated them from fellowship with God. He sent his Son into the world to live as one of us – a man, made like his brothers in every way, tempted just as we are in every way and yet he never sinned. Having lived this perfect life, he gave it as a sacrifice for all who would be called by the gospel.
This gospel (the great and wonderful news from God) is that we can have our fellowship with God restored and live with him in eternity! Even though the world has rejected Jesus as the Savior and Messiah, we can have this promise when we come to him in faith and put on Christ in baptism.
Lord God, you are good, your love endures forever and I thank you. Help me know you better as I draw closer to you by studying your word and talking with you in prayer. Help me exercise my senses in your wisdom so I can grow in maturity. Use me to teach and help others live for you also. Thank you for your grace because I know I do not deserve anything from you except your wrath and punishment. You have forgiven me and I thank you and praise you. Help me show this thanksgiving in my life everyday by the way I live. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
