Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 9:13-16
Ps 9:13-16
13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion. Selah
Phil 1:15-18
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice, yes, and I will continue to rejoice.
It was the will of God that Stephen and James be allowed to die for his cause just as they were getting started preaching Jesus while Paul was allowed to suffer for many years and in many different ways. While God does not give us his reasons for this, we know he allowed it to happen in this way. Even before the first one was martyred, the disciples considered it a joy to be counted worthy to suffer with Christ and for his sake. They put their trust in God and moved on.
Paul could take the worst circumstances and use them as good. Even when false preachers were preaching just to cause him more trouble, he rejoiced and praised God. When he was in the Philippian jail, he and Silas were singing praises to God at midnight. When in a ship in the midst of a storm and it seemed all would be lost, he was in communion with God. He had learned to be content in any and every condition because he could do all things through Christ who gave him his strength. We too can have this same confidence because we serve the same Lord today. We can then have the joy and peace that surpasses understanding.
O God, Lord of heaven and earth, it is an honor to be able to serve you, so how much greater an honor to be known as your child. Thank you for allowing me to come to your great throne of grace in the name of your Son and to know that you will hear me and respond to my prayer. Help me be like Jesus in every way and put aside my own interests in the favor of others. Please be with those of my family who are sick and give them your healing if it is your will. Be with friends who are taking treatments and those still seeking answers to their problems. Give them greater faith and healing where possible. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
