Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 76:7-12
Ps 76:7-12
7 You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? 8 From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet--9 when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah 10 Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. 11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the one to be feared. 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Rom 13:8-10
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Some seem to think that we should not talk so much about love, saying we need to talk more about obedience, judgment and punishment. This thinking comes from a misunderstanding of true love, the love of God. God is love, therefore all that he does or has done is prompted or guided by his love for all of mankind. He seeks what is best for us and wants to lead all to eternal life.
This is why Jesus said that the most important lesson in the Law was for us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and then added that the next is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul explains in our text above that love will never do that which will bring harm to anyone. Genuine love will motivate us to only do that which is according to the will and mind of God. This love will cause us to do good when done wrong. It will prompt us to return good for evil and seek the salvation of all mankind. Love forgives when forgiveness seems impossible.
But when we have God’s love in our hearts, we find peace and joy. As we leave room for God to execute vengeance, we are unshackled from the bondage of hatred, strife and bitterness. By giving we receive the blessings of God.
Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing your word to us. Give me wisdom to be able to understand your will and strength to live it. It is often difficult to love in return for being hated and mistreated. Your love does not come natural or easy to apply in my life, so I need your Spirit to work on my heart and mold me into your likeness. Help me love you enough that no matter what I face, I will seek to do your will. Forgive me when I fail. Help me do more to show others that Jesus is the only source of peace and joy. I pray in his holy and precious name.
Robert
