Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:113-120
Psalms 119:113-120
Samekh
113 I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. 115 Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! 116 Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. 117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees. 118 You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their deceitfulness is in vain. 119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes. 120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
We live in a society that has elevated being politically correct above being honest and actually saying what we mean. The Bible does teach us to be kind, to be polite and to treat others the way we would want to be treated. We do need to use tact when we have to correct someone or tell them that they need to change what they are doing. But we must be honest – honest in what we say and in what we do. We are told to be honest in all things with everyone.
Being honest means we will actually say some things that others may not like or want to hear. Jesus was honest with the religious leaders of his day and they killed him for it. Paul was honest in his preaching and he was often persecuted for the things he said. Stephen was honest in his preaching and he was stoned to death because of it. Being honest is often not popular because people don’t like to face the reality of what they are or the consequences of their actions.
There have always been those who are double-minded. They are deceptive in what they say and what they do. Paul warned about those who would use empty philosophy or flowery words to persuade people to believe things that are false and would lead others away from God. They will do this to create their own following and to make themselves look good.
James says the law of God must be taken honestly and allowed to penetrate our hearts and change our lives. This means we must be honest with ourselves about ourselves, with God and with his word. When our sin is pointed out or we see we are wrong in what we believe, we repent and we change.
O God, help me never forget that your word is truth. Don’t let me think I can just take the parts that make me feel good and ignore those truths that hurt and require that I change my life to conform to your will. Give me an honest and pure heart to want to become more like you each day. I know I fail to live up to your glory and I need your constant forgiveness. Thank you for your promise to forgive and to strengthen me when I fail. Use me to help others serve you. Help me to be able to speak your truth but do it in love. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
