Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:169-176
Ps 119:169-176 Taw
169 May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word. 170 May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. 171 May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. 175 Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Paul says that when we are raised up from the grave of water in baptism, we are raised to walk in a new life as a new creation in Christ Jesus. On another occasion he says that we are created in Christ for the purpose of doing good works. In our text he says we are a special people for God who are eager to do what is good.
But in each of these passages he is saying that we are saved by what Jesus has done for us and it is by his grace that we are made new in him. Since we belong to him and he has forgiven us, we owe him every part of our lives. For this reason we walk in love and show his kindness to all around us. We serve others as we lift them up to God and help them along their way. Our lives are filled with goodness.
Self-assessment is important. We must accept what God has given us and use it for his glory. This means we recognize that all we are and all we have is from his hand and not our own doing. We also do not demean our abilities but use each talent he has given to his glory. As we trust him, we see his strength in us. So we do not feel dejected nor do we become proud. In Christ we can do all things.
Heavenly Father it is with joy that I give you thanks for all you have put in my life. Thank you for those who pray for me and those who say kind words to me. Use me and all you have given me to bring honor to your name as I seek to do what I can to serve those around me. I give you thanks for my parents who loved me and who taught me to love and serve you. Thank you for giving me a wife that helps me stay focused on you and who encourages me in so many ways. Protect those who are homeless and those who are hungry. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
