Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:161-168
Ps 119:161-168 Sin and Shin
161 Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. 162 I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood but I love your law. 164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. 166 I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. 167 I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. 168 I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.
Matt 13:44-46
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
What determines the value of anything? It has been said that one person’s junk is another’s treasure. What we want, what we like or how we perceive something determines how much value we give to it. That value may or may not be the real value of that object or thing. One of the things that determines true value is how long that value will last. An example of this is the money spent on Beanie Babies a few years ago and now most of them are worthless, just taking up space.
The word of God is truly valuable. Knowing him and his Son and being a part of his kingdom has value that cannot be measured. Jesus asked the rhetorical question about this when he asked: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The whole purpose of our existence on this earth is to come to know God in Jesus Christ and to live for him in preparation for eternity. We will stand before God in judgment and he will not care about how much money we earned or how big our house was here or what kind of cars we drove. Our education and careers will not impress God. Our faith in his word and our trust in him is what will count and this will be determined by how we obeyed his will. The gospel is God’s true treasure.
Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you have shown me your way in Jesus Christ and have provided a way of forgiveness of my sins. As Paul said, I know I have not arrived or obtained that eternal victory but I know you have promised and I trust your word. Give me faith and strength to live in a manner worthy of your calling. Use me to lead others to you by my example. Thank you for the many friends and family who encourage me to live for you. I ask your peace and comfort for those who have lost loved ones. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
