Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 120:1-7
Ps 120:1-7
1 I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me. 2 Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. 3 What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue? 4 He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree. 5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! 6 Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. 7 I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Acts 5:40-42
40 His [Gamaliel] speech persuaded them [the Sanhedrin]. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
When was the last time you were beaten with a whip for proclaiming the gospel to someone? Since most who read this have lived our entire lives in this country where we have the freedom to speak what we believe, it is difficult for us to even imagine this happening to us. Yet, there are places in our world today that anyone who tells others about Jesus is persecuted – and some to death. Would we have the courage to accept this graciously and praise God for the honor of suffering with Christ? Would our faith keep us rejoicing even in trials?
The Psalmist was constantly faced with mistreatment from others. He was seeking to do the will of God and was not seeking the harm of anyone else. Although he earned his fame because he killed the Philistine giant and later because he was such a successful General in the army, David was a man of peace at heart. His bravery, his faith and his zeal to fight was not for his own honor but was because of his love for God and the nation of God’s people.
Like the promised Son who came many years after him, David only sought to do the will of the Father in heaven. He was a great king in his time. We have a much greater king over Spiritual Israel today; Jesus the Son of God!
Heavenly Father, thank you for your wisdom and your providence in giving us all of the blessings we have in Jesus today. Help me like David to have a pure heart and a sincere desire to do your will. Even more, help me in all things be like your Son and my Savior, Jesus. Forgive me when I fail to live up to your glory. Lord, you have blessed me in so many ways and I ask you to help me use what you have given to me in a way to help others. Open my eyes to see and use opportunities you give to lead others to you. I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord and my King.
Robert
