Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 36:1-6
Ps 36:1-6
1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. 3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong. 5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
Matt 26:3-7
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. 5 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
What a contrast! There are those who are wicked but pretend to be righteous while some who because of their position in society, are looked down on but have hearts of gold and are seeking to be all God wants them to be. But this is not new; David dealt with this kind of people and Jesus was killed by them. Paul wrote to the Romans about those who do not acknowledge God or give him thanks, so God has given them over to their evil desires. They become more and more wicked.
As we saw yesterday, there are those who are supposed to be religious leaders and teachers who have a “form of godliness but deny the power” of it. This is what Paul referred to when he said not to quench the Spirit that God has given us. He is the power who works in us to will and to do God’s work. He is the one who molds us and brings forth his fruit in our lives. We must open our hearts to him.
We may not be able to change or control others and their behavior but we can be honest with ourselves and with God and follow his word and do his will. As we trust him with all our heart, we find peace and joy that only his people can know.
O Lord God, majestic and holy, awesome and powerful, I come to you humbly and with fear of your greatness. Yet, at the same time I come to you in boldness in the name of Jesus, your Son and my Savior. Give me an honest and pure heart so I am not deceived by Satan and his trickery. Open my eyes every time I fail to live up to your glory and to be all you want me to become. Thank you for each friend and each family member you have put in my life. Use me to help someone today. Bless the leaders of our country with wisdom. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
