Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:17-24
Ps 119:17-24 Gimel
17 Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands. 22 Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
James 1:23-25
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.
Serving God will bring us joy that is above all circumstance we may face. We can rejoice in the face of trials and even persecution. We enjoy a peace that surpasses the comprehension of the world. This does not mean we will not face problems in life just because we are seeking to do the will of God. Living as a Christian will often bring trouble upon us and may cause those around us to hate us.
Jesus told his disciples that the world hated him and they would be hated also. He was mistreated and those who follow him will be too. As we show forth the glory of God in our lives, we expose the sin of the world. This makes those who participate in this sin uncomfortable, so they will take it out on us. This caused the Jews to kill Jesus and persecute his followers. It will come to us too at times.
This does not mean that the more we are mistreated the more holy we are. We are not to be obnoxious or self-righteous in our attitude toward others. We are to be loving, kind, considerate and compassionate. Regardless how reprehensible the sin of others, we are to love them and have a forgiving attitude toward them. We are to be careful that we don’t seem to condone the sin and certainly not become a participant in it. We love as God loves us and forgive as he forgave us.
Heavenly Father help me extend grace to others in a loving and compassionate manner. Fill me with your joy and your peace, even in the midst of trials and even persecution. Thank you for the freedoms afforded me in this country. Help me not take these for granted but to use them to spread your word. Our leaders need your wisdom and your guidance so that we can continue to live in peace. I ask you to guide the media to be more fair in their reporting and not to use their venue to cause strife and hatred but to promote peace. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
