Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 94:8-13
Ps 94:8-13
8 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? 9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? 10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile. 12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law; 13 you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
1 Peter 2:13-17
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Can you imagine the reaction of the readers to what Peter is saying? “You want me to honor the Emperor when he is the one who is trying to destroy the Lord’s people?” “You want me to respect the Roman King when he is the one who killed our Lord?” “How can you say God put such an evil person in this position?”
But Peter says that when we show love and respect to others, we honor the King Most High, our Lord Jesus. When we recognize that God is in control and live in peace, we show those around us our faith is genuine trust and not just words. We are given an opportunity to demonstrate Jesus living in us the most when we show respect for that which we personally dislike. We love because he loves us.
We are given a freedom in Jesus Christ that the world does not know. They are bound by the things of this world and the circumstances in which they live but we are only bound by the love of God in us. Whatever happens to us or to our world, we can have peace inside because we know that we have a home far better than anything this world can offer. Jesus is with us and will take care of us on the way.
Heavenly Father I am so thankful for your love, your mercy and your grace shown to me in more ways than I can possibly know. Fill me with your Spirit so I can show your love to others and I can be filled with grace toward them. Fill me with compassion instead of anger or self-righteousness when I am faced with wicked people. Thank you for the many who do love you and who encourage me as I seek to be like Jesus. Forgive me when I fail and let me be forgiving to others. Be with our leaders and our nation. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus my King.
Robert
