Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 4:5-8
Ps 4:5-8
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. 6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
As I read these verses I am reminded of the old hymn; “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” “What He says we will do. Where He sends we will go. Never fear, only trust and obey.” In our emphasis on the grace of God, we need to be careful that we not neglect the subject of obedience. We must never take lightly our need for obedience to God.
One wise preacher friend of mine said that we can never over emphasis truth but we can neglect to speak of other truths that lend balance to our teaching. Some have preached and taught about obedience to the point that it sounds as though they believe we earn our salvation by our works.
We don’t because we are saved by grace. This type of legalism leads us to one of two false conclusions. Either we become proud (as the Pharisees in the time of Jesus) because we convince ourselves we know so much and are doing such a good job in living it or we fall into despair because we see the holiness of God and how far short we are of attaining that goal so we just give up.
The truth is that we all fall short of the glory of God. Even the apostle Paul said he had not yet attained perfection but pressed on toward the goal. At the same time, he knew that nothing could separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord so he lived in the confidence provided by the grace and forgiveness of God that is made possible by the blood of Jesus. John said that as we walk in the light we have the continued forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. Thus we seek to live in complete obedience because God has extended his grace to us and we owe him everything we have and everything we are.
O God, help me never forget that I am what I am only by your grace. Thank you for providing a way for me to be forgiven of my sin so I can go to bed at night with an assurance that I will be with you in eternity. Keep me from becoming proud or judgmental toward others as they seek to serve you too. Help me remember that my understanding of your word and my living it is not the standard of truth but only Jesus and his word are the true standard by which all are measured. Use me in your will to be all you want me to be. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
