Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 80:8-15
Ps 80:8-15
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out its boughs to the Sea, its shoots as far as the River. 12 Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes? 13 Boars from the forest ravage it and the creatures of the field feed on it. 14 Return to us, O God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, 15 the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.
Rom 8:6-8
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
Why have you left us? Why do the nations win over us? Why do you not save us? Why, why, why? These are the questions asked by Israel of old and they are the same ones being asked today by many. The answer is that God has not moved or left us behind. When we (or they) turn away from God, he will not bless or watch over us, even his own children. When we are trusting him and when we are doing our best to obey him, there is no end to his mercy or his forgiveness but when we rebel, he turns his back on us and will not hear us. The answer is within us.
But God is tender in mercy and is full of compassion. He does not want anyone to be lost but all to come to him and live for him. There is none so evil or none so wicked that the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse that person and make them right with God! In this is love, not that we loved him but he loved us and gave his Son to be the propitiation for our sin. God will never leave those who love him.
But God knows our hearts. He knows if we are making excuses. He knows if we are putting our trust in him or in ourselves. He knows if we worship him as the only true God or if we have idols of material possessions or idols of pleasure or idols of egotism that we serve. It is his place, and only his to pass judgment but his judgment is always right. Grace is wonderful but it is not an excuse to sin.
Heavenly Father I am so thankful for your grace shown to me in Jesus Christ. I know that all I do; all I think and all I am is laid bare before your eyes. Give me a pure heart and a stronger desire to be just like Jesus. Help me be willing to use all you have given me to serve you and to serve others. Give me a heart of fairness, compassion and love toward everyone with whom I come in contact. Be with our nation, our leaders and the elections that are taking place. Give us women and men that will look to you for wisdom. I pray in the name of Jesus my King.
Robert
