Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:145-152
Psalms 119:145-152
Qoph
145 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees. 146 I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night that I may meditate on your promises. 149 Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws. 150 Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. 151 Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true. 152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
The Psalmist equates the law of God with his love. In our minds this probably does not fit. Somehow we tend to think that God’s law and his love are on opposite ends of the spectrum. His law demands our obedience with the promised penalty of punishment when we fail. His love compels his compassion, bringing forth his mercy which causes him to extend his grace. Somehow in our minds the idea of God’s law and his love just don’t go together.
Yet, when we understand that God’s law is the revelation of his nature for us to have the best possible life, we see his love extended in it. It is because of his love that he has shown us how to live. His word warns us of the missteps of life and the dangers of sin. God’s punishment for sin is sure but this is the end result. If we open our eyes we can see the horrible results of sin all around us in this life. His love is constantly seeking to help us avoid this evil.
When we follow the word of God and we eagerly seek to be more like Jesus every day, we find our lives are filled with joy and peace. It is in this eager journey to be with God that we strive to become like him. When we face the trials of life we can rejoice because we know God is on our side and he will see us through. In fact, the very trials we face help mold us to become ready to live with him. We have been given life to serve God and to glorify him now so we can live with him in eternity. This is the whole purpose of our existence.
O God, heavenly Father, I thank you for your wonderful love. I thank you for revealing your love to me in your word. Give me greater faith to want to be like you and to trust your way for my life. Please continue to forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. Give me wisdom to know and strength to serve you better. Help me open my heart to your Spirit and your bidding so that I can live for you and be an example for others to follow. Use me to comfort those who are in distress and hurting. Give me wisdom to guide those who are seeking to know you. Be with those who are sick. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
