Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 84:1-4
Ps 84:1-4
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young--a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
Rom 15:4-6
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Over the last few months we have face the virus pandemic and have had to curtail so many of our activities. One of these is that many churches have chosen to not meet physically or to meet in smaller groups or outside in cars. Many churches have resorted to internet meetings and services. While all of these give a sense of being together, they really are lacking when it comes to being physically together.
For many, this has raised the awareness of the value of being together. The online services are really good and offer benefits of not being distracted and being able to concentrate on what is being done and said. But being together online or in our cars in the parking lot is not the same as being assembled as we are accustomed to doing. Nothing replaces the fellowship in worship and praise, assembled in one body of believers. This gives us encouragement that nothing else can do.
Meeting online has allowed many churches to reach out to those who have no experience of going to church. While the internet has long been used in the work of Satan, because of this virus we have learned to use the internet to the glory of God and this is great. It has taught us endurance. Hopefully, it has made us aware of the difficulties our church leaders face in trying to do the will of God and at the same time meet our needs in a safe and reasonable manner. Praise the Lord!
Heavenly Father I am thankful that you can take something as terrible as Covid-19 and use it for our good and to your glory. Instill in me a greater desire to follow your will and to serve you in every part of my life. Help me to lay aside our many traditions and to think outside the box but always in your will as I seek to teach and to encourage others. Thank you for so many who have helped me and taught me to study your word over the years. Be with our nation and our leaders that we might be able to freely teach your word. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
