Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 122:1-9
Psalms 122:1-9
1 rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” 2 Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. 4 That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel. 5 There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. 7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” 8 For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
Do you find pleasure in being with others who are seeking to serve God? Do you enjoy going to the assembly of fellow Christians and worshipping in Bible study, prayer, singing and thanksgiving? If these things bring us joy, peace of mind and rejuvenate us spiritually we will take advantage of every opportunity we have to be a part of them. God has designed it so that we as we are brought closer to him, we grow closer to others who are serving him. But it also works the other way around, the more we enjoy true fellowship (joint participation in being children of God) the closer we become and at the same time the closer we draw to God. It is no accident that God designed these assemblies for us.
As a part of our Christian lives we are to pray for peace. Paul tells us to pray for our rulers that we will have peace. God has always desired that people live in peace. The source of conflict (whether it is on a family level, neighbor level, national or international level) is from Satan and not from God. God is the God of peace and order. It is the wisdom of this world that is called demonic that produces conflict, strife and all kinds of discord. Satan has always tried to get people to be selfish and put themselves above others. This attitude always ends with conflict accompanied by anger, slander, gossip and malice.
God wants peace among his people. Jesus told his disciples that the one true badge of discipleship was the love they were to have for each other. Love will bring us peace because it is a part of the wisdom from God.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and your demonstration of love shown in giving your Son for my sin. Help me open my heart and allow your Spirit to perfect your love in me so that it overflows to those around me. Just as you are love, I want that attitude to define me also. As I learn to love others as you love me, help me hate sin even as Jesus demonstrated his hatred of sin. Give me a heart of compassion to want to help others by speaking the truth in love and showing them your way to heaven. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
