Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 49:7-11
Ps 49:7-11
7 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--9 that he should live on forever and not see decay. 10 For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
Luke 16:19-22
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
Jesus had a way of making some of the most powerful and thought provoking statements in the simplest terms possible. The rich man in this story “had it made” or some would say “he had everything under control.” Yet, in spite of all his wealth and his powerful influence he also died and was buried.
Any of us can look around and see streets, buildings, businesses and even some universities that have been named after great men and women but who are now dead and gone. If you have ever visited the Biltmore Estates you see how one man used part of his fortune to build a magnificent estate of houses, stables, gardens and much more. It is truly beautiful but George Vanderbilt is dead and has been buried. His name lives but he is gone. All of his wealth and his abilities as an engineer could not keep him alive.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is appointed unto man to die and after this comes the judgment. Whether we are as poor as Lazarus the beggar or as wealthy as the rich man, we too will die and we will face God where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now is the time for us to confess Jesus as Lord, to turn from sin and be baptized into his name. Then with our sins forgiven we are ready to live for him as we prepare to go home to be with him in eternity where we will live forever in the presence of God.
O God of the universe, thank you for making it possible for me to live forever in your Divine presence. I know I have sinned so much and in so many ways and do not deserve to ever be with you. So I am grateful beyond words that you have given your Son to die for my sin and based on his sacrifice, you are willing to forgive me. Thank you for your matchless love. Help me love others as you love me and forgive as you forgive me. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
