Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 106:34-40
Ps 106:34-40
34 They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, 35 but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. 36 They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. 38 They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. 39 They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. 40 Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world-the cravings the flesh, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
As long as we are physically alive, we will live in this world. As long as we are spiritually alive, we will not live as one who loves this world. This is difficult for us to really grasp and put into practice because all we can see is the physical. It is only through the eye of faith that we can see God in heaven and Jesus sitting on his throne at the Father’s right hand. Only by faith do we see the beauty and glory of what Jesus has prepared for us in eternity, but we constantly (and physically) see the appeal of this world and what it offers for us now.
Earlier we read of Lot whose soul was troubled every day by the wickedness of his home town of Sodom yet maintained his faith in God. But Israel did not follow his example. They made the tragic mistake of trying to be like the nations among whom they lived. They began to think like them and then to act like them. They worshipped their gods and killed their children in sacrifice to them.
We must maintain our trust in God and in his word. Jesus really is Lord and one day every knee will bow before him and confess him. When we seek first his righteousness and his kingdom, we will die to self and allow him to live in us.
Father and God in heaven in whom belongs all glory and honor, it is with deep reverence that I come to you today. Keep me from wanting to be conformed to the world around me but help me be transformed in my mind and my life to be like you. Help me always keep my eyes on Jesus and follow his example. Use me to do your will while I am here on earth. Open my eyes to see the opportunities you give to me and give me the fortitude to use them. Fill me with your love, your kindness, your mercy and your forgiving spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
