Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 146:5-10
Ps 146:5-10
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--the LORD, who remains faithful forever. 7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, 8 the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
As we study the history of man and his relationship with God, we see mankind in an almost constant state of rebellion. God has always instructed us how to live (even though it has been done in various ways over the ages) and it has all been based on his absolute purity and holiness. However, mankind has often blamed God for our own failure to live up to the standard he has provided.
It was the sin of Adam that opened the door for all evil in the world. When we choose to follow Satan instead of God, we find ourselves overwhelmed with problems, trials and heartaches. It was not God who introduced sin and wickedness but it was rebellion against God and his will that brought it forth. All of the sickness, the pain, the suffering, the hatred, fighting and every other form of evil is the result of our failure to follow the will of God.
But God does not want us to suffer. God does not want us to be sick or to have pain. God did not create us to have all these problems in our lives. When God finished his creation, he observed that it was all good. We were given a perfect world in which to live and it is we who destroyed that perfection.
When we consider all that is taught in scripture, we know that we all will die and we will face judgment. Behind the scenes there is a battle going on between God and Satan for each of us and our eternal destiny. God has already won the victory even though we do not see it with our physical eyes. This victory was won when Jesus rose from the dead to live forever. There is a battle. God has won. We must choose sides. We can choose the Lord’s side and have eternal life.
Lord God, giver of all good things, I thank you for the wonderful life you have given me. I have been blessed far beyond what I ever expected or even dreamed and I know I do not deserve anything from you. Even though I have failed you so many times in so many ways you have forgiven me. Use me, my life and all you have given me to your glory. Help me open my heart to your will so your Spirit can work in me and make me more like you. Give me a heart of compassion and bless those who are less fortunate. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
