Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 75:6-10
Ps 75:6-10
6 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. 7 But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. 8 In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs. 9 As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob. 10 I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
2 Peter 3:8-9
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God can say the word and destroy the world. He spoke and created it and he also sent the flood that killed the wicked and changed the earth forever. But God does not want to destroy anyone. God wants everyone to come to him, trust him and live for him so they can live with him in eternity. The same God who made us and all things is also the one who makes it possible for everyone to have eternal life.
He is not some evil spirit who must be appeased. He does not want anything bad to happen to any of us. Any physical sacrifice we make to him and for him does not change his mind or earn us any rewards. Our good works are as filthy rags as they come before him. He is holy, righteous and just so sin must be punished.
But God is love. He is great in mercy and lovingkindness. He is patient and kind and these traits of his nature bring us his grace. He has punished our sin for us so that we can live and not die. Because of his great love, he sent his own Son to live on earth as one of us but without sin. On this sinless Son, the Father laid our sins as though they were his own. And with our sin on his account, he suffered and died on the cross for each of us. He died once that we might live forever. But we must accept his grace to have his forgiveness. As Jesus died to sin and was raised to live, so by faith we die to sin as we are buried in baptism and raised to live a new life in Jesus Christ. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
O Lord God, what a Savior is Jesus my Lord! How wonderful to have and to know the forgiveness in him. Help me be more committed to serve you and to become like you in every way. Increase my faith so that every thought and intent of my heart is on bringing honor to you by the things I say and do. Take away all my fears as I trust you and your love for me. Be with our nation and give us leaders who will honor you and your word. Give them your wisdom. Heal the wounds of bitterness that rage among our people. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
