Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:1-8
Ps 119:1-8 Aleph
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. 3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
Rom 8:5-8
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the fleshly mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
In the secular world we expect a goal of 100% perfection in products and services for which we pay. This is true in manufacturing as well as dining services. In our minds this is true even more in the medical field, in law enforcement, in banking, and in education. When we order something over the internet, we expect it to be exactly what we ordered and to work as advertised. We want perfection but often we do not get it because people and systems make mistakes.
In our spiritual lives we must seek 100% perfection. We are to be like God; holy as he is holy, loving as he is love; forgiving as he forgives and patient as he is patient toward us. Jesus is our example and we are told to follow him and to be like him in all things. As a man he was faithful to his father in all things and that is to be our goal. He trusted God to take care of him; even when he faced death and we are to be like him in our faith. His will was to do the will of the father and that is to be our goal as well. Paul said we are to follow him as he followed Christ.
But we fail. No matter how hard we try, there are times we fail to be like God or follow the example of Christ. But when we are in Christ and walk in his light, we have the constant forgiveness and cleansing of the blood of Jesus. Praise God!
O Lord God, I am so thankful for your love for me. Keep me from ever trivializing sin in my life. I know that my sin cost you the death of Jesus on the cross. Keep me from ever making your grace a license to sin. I need your forgiveness, as well as your continued wisdom and motivation to do my very best. Thank you for your protection and I ask that you be with us as we travel. I stand in awe at your mighty power and praise you forever. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
