Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 50:16-23
Ps 50:16-23
16 But to the wicked, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. 18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 20 You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son. 21 These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. 22 “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue: 23 He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
James 1:21-22
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
We often hear people bemoaning the fact that prayer has been taken out of our public schools. (Actually it has not but teacher lead prayer or prayer as a part of a school function has.) What is really sad is that prayer has vanished from so many of our homes. For many who claim to be Christians and their children, the only time they are exposed to prayer is when they are at church and someone else prays out loud or occasionally they may utter a few words at mealtime.
When we gear our lives around our school activities, sporting events, social affairs or entertainment and only have time for God once in a while, we are not putting him first as God in our lives. When any and every distraction keeps us from the worship services, are we giving him the honor he deserves?
Becoming a Christian is a life changing event. The old person we used to be is to die and we are reborn in Christ as a new person with a renewed mind. The old things have been put to death and are gone from our lifestyle and we now imitate Christ in all we are and do. We offer the freewill offerings of praise and give him thanks for all things. In Him we live and move and have our very breath.
Father and God in heaven, thank you for your love and thank you for the blessings that abound in my life. Thank you for the good times and thank you for the times that have been difficult but have shown me your power, your love and your guidance. I ask a special blessing on those who are battling cancer today. As they undergo treatments and face surgeries, give them healing where it is your will. Others are facing other diseases and I ask you to be with them too and give your strength and peace of mind to all of them. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
