Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 97:1-6
Ps 97:1-6
1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. 4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
Luke 2:8-14
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
In all the majesty and glory of God that has been shown since creation, there is nothing that surpasses the coming of a Savior to the earth. The door of heaven was opened to earth and to the needs of mankind in a way that had never been done before. God in his mercy, showed his great love by giving his unique Son to come to this world as one of us and to live life as we know it here.
God the Son emptied himself of all the glory that was rightfully his as deity and took upon himself humanity with all of the trials we face in our own lives. This child whom we know as Jesus, was made like us in every way and as he grew into manhood, he faced the same temptations we face. Yet, he never sinned but did the will of the Father in all things. He truly became our brother in flesh.
His life was not filled with glamor or wealth but he was hated and maligned. He brought the truth from heaven to earth and mankind rejected him along with the words he delivered. He was finally executed by crucifixion and laid to rest in a borrowed tomb. But God raised him from that grave and he lives forever. It is in him, in his death and his resurrection that we can have our sins forgiven and we can live with him forever in eternity. God punished our sin in his only Son.
Thank you God for your matchless love and your great mercy that sent your Son to die for my sin. While he lived sinless, I have failed you so many times. He lived and showed your glory in all parts of his life and I have failed to live up to your glory. Help me keep this great sacrifice in my mind to motivate me to live for you and to shun evil and avoid every form of sin. Let your love for me help me love others so I will be compassionate and forgiving instead of judgmental. I have friends who are suffering and I ask you to be with them. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
