Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 106:28-33
Ps 106:28-33
28 They [Israel] yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; 29 they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them. 30 But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. 31 This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come. 32 By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them; 33 for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips.
1 Cor 10:6-10
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did-and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did-and were killed by the destroying angel.
A lesson that Israel seemed to never learn was that God is God and he makes and gives the way we are to live. It doesn’t matter if we understand why or if we like what he has said, we are to obey him. On many occasions God told the people that the reason they were to obey him was that they belonged to him. He freed them from their slavery (which they could not do for themselves) and then he had protected them and provided their needs. They owed him everything.
Another reason they were to obey was so he could bless them. God does not and cannot tolerate sin. Because he is a just God, sin must be punished. So he told them that if they followed his commands, he would bless them more than they could imagine. If they disobeyed him, he would bring a curse on them.
Through Jesus Christ, God has delivered us from the slavery of sin. We are now his people and we owe him our all. He has promised to protect us and to provide for us when we trust him and follow his will. But if we become stubborn and follow our own will and set up our own gods, he will reject and punish us.
Heavenly Father it is such a joy to serve you. Help me remember that obedience to you is a privilege and a blessing because you always lead me in the way of righteousness. Serving you not only gives me joy but also peace. Trusting you allows me to not have to worry about things of this world. As I keep my eyes focused on you, I know you will never allow me to be tempted by more than I can withstand and will always provide for me a way to do right. Forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. I pray in the name of Jesus my Savior.
Robert
