Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 40:1-5
Ps 40:1-5
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Col 1:21-23
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Over the years there have been many discussions among Bible students about our salvation relative to faith in God and our works and things we do. Many passages have been quoted and used to show that our faith is what saves us and that we are not saved by our works. On the other hand, there have been an equal number showing that we must continue to be faithful and we must do the will of God in obedience to his commands in order to be saved. Between these have been those who have used scripture to show that based on our faith we seek to do the will of God and align our lives to his nature to the best of his ability.
Which is more important in a marriage, the relationship between the bride and groom or the marriage and home they form? What holds it together, the love they have for each other or the love they have for God? The answer to this is that all of these are most important and play their part. So, while we cannot earn our salvation by doing good works, we cannot be saved without obedience based on our faith in the saving act of God; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
O Lord God, you hold the world in your hand. All glory and honor is yours as the one Deity above all. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain for my sin and the sin of the world. Your majesty and your greatness is far above my comprehension and my ability to understand. Thank you for loving me when I do not deserve to be loved and forgiving me for my sin. Fill me with your Spirit and empower me to have more self-control and to be more loving. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
