Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 71:16-21
Ps 71:16-21
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. 19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you? 20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.
1 Cor 15:42-44
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
At best, life is short. When we are young, we can hardly wait until we become teenagers or twenty-five. The next thing we know, we wake up and we are fifty and then seventy and wonder where all the years went in such a hurry. Truly, life is but a vapor, it is here today and tomorrow it is gone.
But the question we must ask ourselves is, what are we doing with our lives? Are we wasting our time on self and short-lived pleasures? There is nothing wrong with having fun, especially while we are young and to a large degree, free from cares and responsibilities. Even as we age, we need to enjoy what God has given to us and the beauties all around us. But life is not just about this world.
One of the wonderful things God has done for mankind is that we are made to serve him and serve others. The more we align our hearts and minds with his will, the more we will find joy in serving him. The more we give to others (self, time, energy, heart and compassion as well as things) the more we realize true peace and fulfillment in life. It is by giving ourselves to God that we find the abundant life that Jesus promised to give. Today is the day the Lord has made, rejoice in it.
Heavenly Father it is so wonderful to know you as my God and to be able to serve you with all you have given to me. The hard part is that the more I know you and the more I am determined to be like Jesus, the more I realize how far short I am of your glory and from being like him. But what a joy to know that you are full of compassion and you are merciful and continue to forgive me in Christ. Open my eyes to opportunities to serve you as I serve others. Help me to truly be willing to say, “not my will, but your will be done” in my life. In Jesus name I pray.
Robert
