Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 55:16-23
Ps 55:16-23
16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. 17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 18 He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19 God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them—Selah – men who never change their ways and have no fear of God. 20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21 His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. 22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. 23 But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.
Matt 8:13
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
We all are controlled by our social norms and the culture in which we live. When Jesus asked the woman of Samaria to draw some water and give him a drink, she was shocked because he was a Jewish male asking her for a drink. Most Jewish men would have been repulsed by her, even if she had offered them a drink (which she never would have done). But Jesus did not let his culture get in the way of reaching people (any nation or gender) with the news of salvation.
Jesus took time to heal the servant of a Roman centurion. The Jews hated the Romans and especially the Roman soldiers who occupied their homeland. But because of the faith this man demonstrated in his request, Jesus both healed the servant and commended him for his great faith. God is no respecter of persons.
When we call to God in faith, he will hear our cry. Our response to every trial and every need in life should be to turn to God in prayer. We too often think that somehow God wants us to do it all ourselves and fix all of our own problems. But what he really wants is for us to trust him. It doesn’t matter what nationality we are or what gender, God wants us to put our trust in Jesus.
Heavenly Father it is such a privilege to be your child. Increase my faith so I will trust you and your Son instead of the things of this world or my own strength or my own reasoning and desires. Give us leaders in our nation who will put their trust in you and seek to guide this nation in accord with your word. Give us those who will seek to inspire peace instead of hatred and bitterness. But no matter what happens, help me show respect for those who are elected because I know you are in control of all the nations. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
