Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 78:56-64
Ps 78:56-64
56 But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. 57 Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. 58 They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. 59 When God heard them, he was very angry; he rejected Israel completely. 60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men. 61 He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy. 62 He gave his people over to the sword; he was very angry with his inheritance. 63 Fire consumed their young men, and their maidens had no wedding songs; 64 their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.
Rom 8:12-15
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.
God’s promises are conditional. They were when made to Israel and they are for us today. When Israel followed him, he protected them and blessed them. When we trust God, he will protect us. When we obey his word, he will guide us. When we follow his will, he will lead us in the right way. But when Israel failed to follow him, he left them and they were punished by their enemies. In the same way, when we leave him and his will for our lives, he will not be with us either.
Paul said the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus said that if one believes and is baptized he will be saved but if he does not believe, he will be condemned. God has promised to work all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. If we live according to the flesh, we will die. If we live after the Spirit, we will live because we are children of God. We cannot claim his blessings unless we trust him and live according to his will. But he has promised to never leave or forsake us if we are faithful to him. As his children, his Spirit is always with us.
Heavenly Father, Lord God of heaven and earth, I am so thankful for your tender mercy and your great love. My goal is to be like you in every way. I know I fail too often and I get distracted by the things of this world. I need your Spirit to keep me focused on heaven and on doing your will. Help me to be like David and have a heart like yours. Give me a greater desire to study your word and wisdom to apply it in my life. Forgive me when I fail. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
