Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 69:6-12
Ps 69:6-12
6 May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. 7 For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. 8 I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; 9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. 10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; 11 when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. 12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
2 Cor 4:4-6
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
How many of us are (or would be) willing to give up things we cherish for some cause that we consider greater than ourselves? Many soldiers have given their lives for the greater cause of our nation, for the liberties we enjoy and the good that can be done. In the past there have been many martyrs who have died for their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul said he was willing to not only be bound for the sake of the gospel, but to die if required. He said for him to live was good for others but to die would be gain for him. He could then be with his Lord.
Many in our culture are true sports fanatics. Some are hunting fanatics or fishing fanatics, while some are political fanatics for one cause or another. We say they live and breathe it. This is their life, it is their main reason for existence.
David had this kind of zeal for God. When God was reproached, he felt the pain in himself. When God was cursed, he felt cursed. When he fasted for God, he had to endure scorn by his fellows. His dedication to God and to his will made him an outcast among others around him. In our world, he was a religious fanatic. It was Jesus who said we are to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Lord God give me the courage to be a Jesus fanatic, to live for him, whatever the cost in this world. Help me truly love you with all my heart, soul and mind. Give me a heart that is offended by sin and that feels pain when you are insulted or when your name is used in vain. Help me honestly look inside my life and my heart to be sure that I am not the one offending you. Forgive me when I have done you wrong in any way. Help me, like Jesus, feel compassion when others don’t know you, so I can lead them to you instead of being self-righteous and looking down on them. Give your peace to those who are troubled. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
