Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 69:6-12
Ps 69:6-12
6 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. 7 For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. 8 I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; 9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. 10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; 11 when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. 12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
Rom 15:1-3
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
So often in life, the greatest work we do is in the example we leave for others to follow. Each of us should ask ourselves what others are seeing in us and where our example will lead them. Those who are weak Christians look to those who are stronger in faith to give them courage and to show them the way. Those who are struggling find help in looking to those who have been down the same path and have been faithful in doing so. It is always more effective to show someone how to live or not live than it is to just tell them.
Perhaps this is why so much of scripture is given to biographies. We read of the great men and women of faith and we find strength to endure our trials. But we also read of their failures and how some of them gave in to their temptations and we learn how to avoid such in our lives as well as learning of the mercy and the grace of God. After the synopsis of faithful men and women in Hebrews eleven, chapter twelve begins by saying that since we have this huge number of faithful witnesses surrounding us, let us be faithful today.
Jesus warned Peter that he would deny him and then told him that after he had done so and returned, to strengthen his brethren. We can even use our failures and our weaknesses to learn, improve and then help others.
Thank you God for giving me all I need to be faithful to you. As I look to the men and women given in your word, help me learn from each failure as well as each time they were faithful to you. Help me keep my eyes on Jesus and get rid of every sin and every hindrance that would keep me from being faithful to you. Use me to teach your truth in all I say and help me live it to show others. Forgive me when I fail. I pray in the name of Jesus, my Savior and my perfect example.
Robert
