Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 80:1-7
Ps 80:1-7
1 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken your might; come and save us. 3 Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. 4 O LORD God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. 6 You have made us a source of contention to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. 7 Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Gal 6:7-9
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
With only a casual study of the Old Testament we learn that what Paul said in the above passage is true. When God delivered his people from Egypt, he promised them that if they followed him, he would bless them beyond their wildest dreams but if they followed after idols and failed to keep his law, they would be punished in a way that was unimaginable. They did not listen and were not faithful.
This does not mean that God did not love them and when things go badly for us, it does not mean that God has lost his love for us today. God warned them by his prophets and by his priests but they did not listen. He gave the nation several hundred years to repent and return to him. He did all he could do to show his love but also his power and his anger toward their sin but they refused to repent.
God still loves his people today and he wants what is best for us but he does demand that we be faithful to him. This means we put our trust in him and not in the things of this world. It means we put him ahead of self, our pleasure and our indulgences. It means that we obey his word, to the best of our understanding and in so doing, the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us from all sin.
Thank you, Lord, for your patience with me and your love shown to me in more ways than I can even know. Thank you for being merciful and forgiving to me. Use me in your service to do your will and give me wisdom to see every opportunity you place in my life. Many of my friends have lost those they love and are hurting so badly and I ask you to give these families your peace and comfort. We know that the death of your saints is precious to you. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
