Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:73-80
Psalms 119:73-80
Yodh
73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. 74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. 75 I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. 77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. 78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. 79 May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes. 80 May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
It is interesting today how so many people want to be Christians, want to claim the promises of God and yet have no respect for the word of God. For many the idea seems to be letting God serve them instead of them serving God. They want the benefits without the responsibility, the assurance without the commitment, the peace without the trust and the love without loving.
God has always made his blessing conditional. This has been true since Adam and Eve first lived in the Garden of Eden. They were told not to eat the fruit from the tree in the midst of the garden or they would die. They were commanded to dress the garden and take care of it. While these were simple commands (one do and one don’t) they had consequences of life or death, they failed in their obedience to God. God kept his word and death entered the world.
Jesus said if we want to please God, we are to become servants. We serve God above all others and all else. He is supreme in our hearts and our lives. Because we serve God, we serve others as opportunity arises. Our service is based on love and not on force. Even though God is all powerful and could do so, he does not make us serve him. When we commit our lives to him, he does not make us love and serve others. We willingly submit ourselves to the will of God.
Jesus gave himself to do the will of the Father and in so doing, he gave up his place as equal with God. Having been in the form of God he took the form of a bond servant. We are to have his mind – his attitude of servitude.
Lord God, my heavenly Father, I thank you for giving Jesus to die for my sin. I know I do not deserve anything good from you based on my life. Give me greater faith and commitment to be what you want me to be. Help me love your word more and to study it more so I can know you better and become more like you in every way. Fill me with your Spirit so I can be like Jesus and make your will my own and thus obey you with joy. Use me to comfort, teach and encourage others as they seek to serve you. I pray in the name of Jesus my Savior and Lord.
--Robert
