Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 5:7-12
Ps 5:7-12
7 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies--make straight your way before me. 9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
John Calvin, the great reformer, wrote and spoke often on the sovereignty of God. While I do not agree that this attribute of God takes away the free will of man, it certainly is true that God is God and he can choose and execute according to his will and does not then have to answer to anyone or anything.
When Paul said he could do all things through Christ who gave him strength, he was saying that all he accomplished in life was because of God’s grace. When we determine to do the will of God in our lives we can have his power to accomplish what he wants done. Paul affirmed that he worked hard in the service of the Lord but the results were from God. On another occasion, he said he planted, Apollos watered but it was God who gave the increase.
This means that we are what we are because God has chosen to bless us. When we give him our lives, he will use us in his service. There is no room for pride or boasting on our part. We must never feel we are more important than anyone else around us. In fact, Jesus said we become great by serving. God can take the least of us and use us for the greatest effect. This begins when we seek to become like our Lord in every way and then share his love with others around us.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the ability to share your word with others. Keep me true to your word in all things and help me become more like Jesus every day and in every way. Fill me with your love and your peace so my life will attract others to you. Thank you for the material things you have given to my care. Give me a heart of compassion and keep me from being selfish. Help me use all you have given me wisely. I pray your blessings on those who are challenged with sickness and physical problems. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
