Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 32:8-11
Ps 32:8-11
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
In writing to the Corinthians, Paul speaks of those who have their minds veiled and their hearts blinded. He goes on to tell them that the veil is removed when they come to Christ. It is when we have this saving knowledge of Christ that our stubborn minds are opened and our hearts are turned to God by faith. But this means we must believe in Jesus as the Son of God enough that we do allow him to truly become our Lord, our master, our ruler.
This is exactly what Paul means when he said he no longer lived but Christ lived in him by faith. We die to self, we die to sin and we die to all of the old ways that once dominated our thinking about how we come to Christ and how we serve God. With Jesus as our example, we exist to do the will of the Father.
There are so many pitfalls, heartaches and troubles that can be avoided in our lives when we listen to God. He knows what is best so when we try to tell him how we should live, what we should do or not do, we find ourselves facing all these things that could have been avoided. The great news is that as we learn about Jesus and seek to imitate him, his divine power works in us to both forgive and transform us into his likeness. Rejoice in the Lord!
Mighty God, creator of all things, I thank you for revealing your will to me and giving me the opportunity to come to know you. Thank you for giving Jesus to live as an example for me. Thank you for giving him to die in my place. I need your wisdom and your strength to apply your word in my life. Help me know how to love you and love others, even as you love me. Thank you for your many very great and precious promises that help me become more like you. I ask a special blessing on those who are grieving today. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
