Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 76:1-6
Ps 76:1-6
1 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. 2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. Selah 4 You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. 5 Valiant men lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands. 6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
2 Cor 6:1-2
1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
There are some things that stand in such great contrast that it is impossible for us to consider them as being together. Light and darkness, sweet and bitter, and good and evil are only a few of these. Other things pose a stark contrast but can be harmonized. These cause us to stand in awe and amazement.
When we consider the power and majesty of God and his love at the same time, we stand amazed. His justice and his grace is another contrast in nature. The beauty of his creation and the ugly punishment for sin are opposites. His swift actions at times lie opposed to his patience for centuries. As we study the nature of God, we stand in awe and realize just how he alone is majestic and glorious.
A song we sing that is describing the death of Jesus on the cross has a line that says: “did ere such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown.” As we consider the death of Jesus on our behalf we again stand in awe. Love that is beyond our ability to comprehend as Jesus willingly gave himself to die for us and at the same time, a death contrived to be the most cruel tortures imaginable. The thorns were considered the most despicable of plants but were woven into a crown for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The suffering Savior, the Lamb of God being put to death by the ones he was seeking to save. It was for their sin but also for yours and mine that he accepted his fate. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Heavenly Father I am so thankful for your love, for your mercy, your patience and your marvelous grace extended to me. As I consider you and your nature I not only stand in awe, but I realize just how undeserving I am and how much and how so many times I have failed you and sinned against you. It is easy to compare my life to others and feel pretty good about myself but when compared to Jesus I fall so far short. Thank you for your forgiveness in Him. Be with our nation, heal our hatred, take away the bitterness and open the eyes of many to the good news of Jesus. Give our leaders wisdom so we can live in peace. In Jesus name.
Robert
