Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 74:18-23
Ps 74:18-23
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD, how foolish people have reviled your name. 19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. 20 Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. 21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. 23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
1 Peter 1:18-21
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
It is so easy for us to get caught up in the affairs and the things of this world that we forget that we are here to honor God. It’s not that we are doing things that are terrible or even outright sinful, we are just too busy for serving others and all of our decisions are based on the things of this life. When was the last time we made a major life decision based on how it would affect our service to God or how it would afford us opportunity to serve others? We like to say that God is first, family second and then self. But is God really first or is it self?
I once knew a man who started a business and declared that it would exist to be a ministry of teaching others and reaching the lost. Over a period of several years it became more about making money and being successful. Instead of trusting God (as in the beginning) it was trusting self and money. He acknowledged that he had gradually allowed things to become his motive instead of serving God. It was a subtle shift in his mind that only he and God knew had taken place. It never hurts to do a soul-searching examination of our hearts and motives to be sure that we love the Lord God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind.
Holy Father in heaven, thank you for all you give me. Help me not ever allow your blessings to become my downfall. I know life here is short compared to eternity, so help me keep my heart focused on you so my motive will be to honor you and bring glory to your name. I want to have your love perfected in me, so it will show forth as kindness in humility to others. I ask you to strengthen the faith of those who serve you in spite of persecution. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
