Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 24:1-6
Ps 24:1-6
1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
James 4:4-6
4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
When Moses was admonishing Israel as they were about to go into the land of Canaan, he repeatedly warned them that they were not to become like the nations they were going to displace. The nations that were there were wicked, worshipped idols and had no regard for God. Their lives were immoral and their hearts were full of greed. They practiced all kinds of detestable things in their religions and their everyday lives. Israel was reminded that they belonged to God, that he was holy and he was a jealous God. He would not tolerate them if they turned to the ways of the Canaanites.
He also warned them not to ever think they had conquered the land on their own or with their own strength. It was God who performed the mighty miracles in Egypt, along the way in the wilderness and taking the land. Yet, they did become proud and ignored God. They did take on the ways of the world around them and for these they were destroyed with many taken into captivity.
God is still holy and he is still a jealous God. We are his and he expects us to be holy and never be like the world around us. Paul said we are in the world but we are not to be of the world. We are not to love the world. We are to love God.
O God, give me a greater love for you, for Jesus and for your holy ways. Keep me from temptation and fill my heart with your Spirit so I will be more like you each day. Forgive me when I fail. Please give your strength and peace to those who are sick, who are taking treatments, who are hurting in so many ways. Use me to do what I can to help them and encourage them. Open my eyes to see your many blessings and help me be never be selfish but to be more grateful to you and to use what you have given me to your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
