Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 127:1-5
Psalms 127:1-5
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves. 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
Have you ever heard the saying: “Like father, like son”? It is no wonder that as we read through the Psalms and then the Proverbs we see many similarities. We see that we must allow God to control our lives. Even though we may make plans and we may have ideas of what is best, we always leave it up to God to direct our lives and the circumstances around us. We may make many plans but it is God who makes things happen. This is why Paul so often said what he planned or wanted to do but always modified it with the understanding that God’s will would be done. James teaches us the same lesson in his book. Since God knows what is best and what we need (or don’t need), this is a wonderful thing in our lives.
Children are indeed a blessing from God. (We may question this for a while as they pass through the teenage years but even then there are good moments.) As parents (and later grandparents) we revel in the joy of their youth as they bring so much joy to our hearts. With this blessing comes a tremendous responsibility as we seek to train them and teach them of their need to follow Jesus Christ.
This later part is not always easy as we face the many pressures of our society in which God is either taken out completely or at best removed from all things public. The entertainment world is dominated by those who deny God and his control in our lives. This begins with the cartoons aimed at our youth and then continues in their schooling from pre K through college. As we face these challenges, we must remember that our world is not as bad as when Noah was here and he raised his kids to trust and serve God. We can too but it will take a concentrated effort on our part in our homes and daily lives.
O God, thank you for my family. I thank you for my physical family and the joy we so often share and bring to each other. Thank you for my spiritual family and the joy, the help and the encouragement we share together. There are some who are facing very dark times in their lives and I ask you to please shed your light on them and give them your peace and joy as they trust you in all things. Use me to be a help, comfort and a friend to them in these difficult times. Forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
