Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 107:33-38
Ps 107:33-38
33 He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, 34 and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. 35 He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; 36 there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. 37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; 38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.
1 Peter 1:3-6
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
When we face the barren sands and the wastelands of life, we can know there is more than just a mirage of an oasis ahead. There is a city beyond all cities on the earth with the river of life that flows forever. This is the dwelling of our God who provides all our needs and provides them beyond what we are able to think or even imagine. The glory of our Lord provides the light for this city so that the sun never needs to shine. There is no night, no tears, no sorrow and no death.
But this is not just a dream for the future. As we come to Jesus and live for him now, we are transported from the slavery of sin into the kingdom of the dear Son of God. We are citizens in his kingdom. We are members of his body and stones in his temple. All of these figures are used to denote the family of God on earth, his church. Our home is not here in the barren lands but in that city above.
The church (those who are saved by the blood of Jesus) as God would have it on earth today is a foretaste of that city to come. We often don’t see this because we have our eyes focused on this world and the things of this world. Even Jesus said that there are wicked, lazy and ungodly people in his kingdom who will be purged when he comes again to take his own. But we are in the heavenlies with Jesus now.
Heavenly Father open my eyes to see Jesus and to see that beautiful city where you dwell. Keep me from getting bogged down and distracted by all the glitter this world offers. Use me to do good. The problem is that too often I don’t see the good that needs to be done, so please give me your wisdom to know and to do. I need you every hour of every day and in every part of my life. I pray for those who are sick, taking treatments and getting over surgeries but even more for those who need spiritual healing and a new life in Jesus. In his name I pray.
Robert
