Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 40:14-17
Ps 40:14-17
14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame. 16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!" 17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
Eph 3:16-19
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
God is so wonderful and his love cannot be fathomed. When we try to imagine the infinite power of God coupled with his infinite wisdom, it is impossible for us to understand how he can know each of us and love us enough to allow his Son to die for our sin. That kind of love is beyond our grasp and yet it is true. God is not willing for any of us to be lost but wants all of us to live with him in eternity.
Jesus said that he is the living water, the bread of life and the door to fellowship with the Father. He is the loving Shepherd and the Great Physician. But he also said he is not ashamed to call those who come to him by faith, his brothers, and his sisters. He is one of us, a human person who has been through all of the trials and temptations we face in our lives, only he did it without any sin.
It is the grace of God that calls us, and even demands that we recognize Jesus as our Lord and that we live our lives for him instead of living for ourselves. When we deny ourselves and take up his cross on a daily basis, we find true and lasting inner peace and joy that transcends our circumstances. It is by putting to death the flesh that we learn to live in the Spirit. We die to sin, are buried in baptism, and then raised to become a new person in Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!
Heavenly Father I am so glad to be your child and to know that my sins are all forgiven, washed away with the blood of Jesus my Savior. Increase my faith so I will be all you want me to become and use me where you know best. Thank you for my family and the love we share. Thank you for your spiritual family and for the love we share also. I ask you to be with and bless your church, wherever each person is and whatever their circumstances. Help me keep my eyes on Jesus and on the things above, where he is seated with you. I pray in his name.
Robert
