Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 37:35-40
Ps 37:35-40
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, 36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. 37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. 38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
James 5:10-11
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
We have all seen times that people who are openly wicked and show no regard for God or his word seem to prosper. In fact, at times it seems everything they touch turns to gold, their health is great and their lives appear easy. At the same time we see those who are seeking to serve God from a pure heart and they have every kind of financial, health and social problems that can be imagined.
Does God not care; does he not see? We read how he blesses those who seek him and promises to care for those who trust him but it doesn’t seem to be that way in so many cases. But God never promised to make our lives easy. Some of the most faithful (Read the list in Hebrews 11) faced some of the worst things we can imagine. Job was one of these, yet he never wavered in his faith.
We do not see the end of things as God sees it. Not only this but we fail to see that these trials make us better, build our faith and mold our character. We think we know best but God knows what we need and uses all we face to make us more like him and prepare us to live with him in eternity.
Holy and Awesome God, great is your majesty and wonderful is your name in all the earth. As I ponder your holiness and consider your compassion I realize more every day just how weak I am and how much I fail to live up to your perfection and your glory. Thank you for loving me when I don’t deserve it. Your forgiveness is beyond my comprehension. Fill me with your Spirit so I can have your mercy, your love, your compassion and be forgiving to others. Use me to teach and to help others and encourage them. I pray in the name of Jesus my Savior.
Robert
