Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 73:8-14
Ps 73:8-14
8 They scoff and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" 12 This is what the wicked are like--always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
Luke 12:22-25
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
On a few occasions in my life I have found myself arguing with someone, only to find out later that I was foolish indeed. This may be because they were the expert and I was a novice or they had facts that I did not know or they were much more experienced than I. Some people are qualified to make decision that no one else (or almost no one) is qualified to make. God is the ultimate example of this.
There was a man who lived that had enough wealth to buy anything he desired to have. He had enough power that he got his way on everything he decided. Along with this, he had wisdom to make good decisions which brought him respect and admiration. With all he had in his favor, he sought the meaning of his life and that of all mankind. He used his resources to try everything he could imagine.
His conclusion was that if God is left out of the equation, life is meaningless and like chasing the wind. We build empires and leave them to another. The more we have, the more we want. The more we know, the more we seek to learn. But in the end, he discovered that our purpose for living is to “fear God and keep his commandments” because we will all give an account to him who made us. Life only has purpose when we serve God by serving others.
Heavenly Father keep me from being jealous of those who seem to have all this world admires and believes brings happiness. Help me remember that happiness only comes from serving, giving and sharing as I submit to your will. Remind me that I am to judge myself by your word and not by others and their thinking. Help me use what you have given me, my health, my possessions, my abilities and my time to your glory. I ask your blessings on those who are sick, and those who are hurting. Forgive me when I fail you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
