Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 144:1-4
Ps 144:1-4
1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. 3 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
While in college, a friend of mine had the opportunity to watch a celebrity golf tournament. He actually got to see several famous singers and entertainers up really close. There was one in particular that he wanted to see and as he passed by, just a few feet from him, he tried to get his attention. The celebrity just passed by without ever acknowledging he existed. In a few minutes there was another country singer, equally famous, who came by. When he spoke to him, the singer stopped and asked if he had a guitar close by. He said he did and got it. The singer said let me have it and we will sing together. He then began to play one of his songs as the crowd sang along with him. My friend said he could not believe this famous person had taken the time to acknowledge him and make him feel so special. Who was he to be treated in this way by this person?
God created the entire universe. Everything that is was brought into existence by him and he owns it all now. There is nothing that is not under his control and at his disposal. Yet, he cares about you and me so much that he wants to be with us in eternity. He wants us to be like him in all his holiness. He even wants to share his glory with us in our new bodies. This concern for mankind is so great that he gave his Son to be born into this world and live as a man (as one of us) and then to die a cruel death on a Roman cross as a sacrifice for our sin.
God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him. In this way, God is both just (sin is punished with death) and the justifier (provides a way for mankind to be made righteous) for all those who come to him. God really does care about each of us! O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?
O Lord, I am so thankful that you care about me. Thank you for providing a way of salvation from the trials and troubles of this world but even more, salvation from my sin. Strengthen my faith and make your grace real in my heart so I will be more committed to serving you every hour of every day. Fill me with your Spirit and empower me to be truly transformed by the renewing of my mind so I will never allow myself to be conformed to this world. Help me know your love more fully so I will love others as you love me. Use me to encourage those who are discouraged and hurting. I pray in the name of Jesus, my brother and my Lord.
Robert
