Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 73:12-20
Ps 73:12-20
12 This is what the wicked are like--always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
James 4:13-16
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
Jesus said we cannot love God and mammon. One of the greatest pitfalls of so many is that when we are blessed by God, instead of giving him the glory and giving thanks for what we have, we become proud and think that somehow, we have accomplished it all on our own. The next step in thinking is that we no longer need God in our lives. This destroys our faith and leads to all kinds of evil.
But who among the working class has never looked at others with money and thought they seem to be free from the worries and troubles that most of us have to endure every day? Looks can be deceiving! Even a casual glance at the news and we see that the lives of many of the “celebrities” are filled with all kinds of pain and suffering – and a lot of it comes because of their wealth.
True peace comes from trusting God! This is peace that is beyond our ability to define or comprehend. In our darkest days we can rely on God and know that he will take care of whatever we face. It is in the Prince of Peace that we find peace.
O Lord God, giver of life and sustainer of all good things, I am so thankful to know that you will be with me and protect me, no matter what I face. I know that in Jesus Christ, I can accomplish all you want me to do and I praise you for this. Use me in your service to help others live for you. I ask a special prayer for your people in parts of Africa and in China (among other places) who are suffering because of their faith. I also pray for so many in our nation who are tested daily by their wealth and possessions. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
