Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 73:23-28
Ps 73:23-28
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
This Psalm began with the psalmist declaring that his feet almost slipped because he had envied those who were wicked but seemed to prosper. He saw himself and his afflictions and trials and as he compared himself to those around him, he doubted God, his goodness and even his very existence. This is surely one of the most used ploys of Satan. If he can get our eyes, minds and hearts on the things of this world, we will doubt God because what is see is not fair or just or right.
This is why John tells us not to love this world or the things of this world. All the things of this world are passing and will perish. This is true with fame and it is true with possessions. We come into the world with nothing and we leave whatever we have accumulated behind when we die. It has no lasting value.
Instead, we are to lay up treasures in heaven. These are eternal; both in nature and in value. When we show mercy, love and kindness it cannot be taken away. When we put God and his will first in our lives, he holds on to it and it is never lost. The things we store in heaven will not rust, fade or be taken. But this requires faith because unlike our bank account, we cannot see the balance now.
Heavenly Father, what a blessing you are to me every day. When I fail to hold to the hand of Jesus, I stumble and fall. When I fail to keep focused on the goal and the things above, I am overtaken with the passing pleasures of this world. Help me remember that my life is not about me but about serving you by serving those around me. I am thankful for the material things you have given me. Thank you for allowing me to live in the United States of America and for the freedoms this affords to me. Please be with our leaders in this time of transition and guide them with your wisdom. Help me show them respect. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
