Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 115:1-9
Ps 115:1-9
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. 2 Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; 6 they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; 7 they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD--he is their help and shield.
Matt 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
The more we do in the work of the Lord and the more public that work, the greater the temptation for us to think what we are doing is about us instead of being about God. We all like a compliment and it is encouraging to be told a lesson was good or a class was helpful but we have to remember that all we do is for the glory of God and not our own. Jesus said for us to let our lights shine but he also said it is to be to the praise of our Father in heaven.
More than one of the kings of Israel fought against or were overtaken by pride because of the position God had given them. Even the king of Babylon, who had been used by God to carry out his will, became proud and was made to eat grass and live in the fields as an animal. He learned his lesson and was restored.
We are to have the mind of Jesus, the attitude of humility. In doing this, we will count others better than ourselves and seek to serve them instead of serving self in all things. As long as God is honored and his will is done it does not matter who does it or who gets credit now. Paul and Barnabas returned from their preaching trip and rehearsed to the church all that God had done through them.
O Lord, use me to your glory. Help me always remember that all I have and all I am is from you and because of your grace. I am thankful to you for giving me the opportunities you have given to me. Forgive me for failing to use them to the best of my ability and help me do better today and every day from now on. Give me wisdom to know when to speak, what to say and when to be quite. Bless those who are sick, taking treatments and overcoming surgeries and give them healing as you see best. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
