Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:41-48
Ps 119:41-48 Waw
41 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. 44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.
John 14:23-24
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
A Christian is a disciple, person who follows the teaching of Jesus. It is one who seeks to be like him in every way. In the days of Jesus a young man who wanted to study the Law would be assigned to a Rabbi and become his disciple. He would not only study the Law and learn what it said but he would study the Rabbi and try to imitate him in every way. It is said that if the student were right handed and the Rabbi left handed, the student would change. He would learn to walk like his teacher, talk like him, eat like him and thus, become his mirror image.
As Christians we are to imitate Jesus who is the exact representation of his Father. This means we are to have the attitude which Jesus had in every part of our lives. We learn to be controlled by our love and compassion for others instead of our selfishness and egotism. We learn to have godly anger that is always under our control and never allow our anger control what we say or do.
Paul uses Jesus as an example of humility and then says we are to have that same humility in our lives. Peter tells of the persecutions of Jesus and how he entrusted himself to the Father and then says we are to follow his example. We show our love for God and for Jesus in our obedience to them and their will for us.
Heavenly Father keep me from ever making excuses for not doing your will but give me an obedient heart and a willing spirit to seek to be like Jesus. Increase my faith so that I trust you in all things without ever doubting or worrying. Teach me to love others as you love me and therefore to forgive as you forgive me. You are my guide, my Lord and my teacher because you alone have the words of life. Use me as your servant and to always bring honor and glory to your name. Thank you for your constant daily protection and care in my life. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
