Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:161-168
Note: There will be no new devotionals the week of 5/29/22.
Ps 119:161-168 Sin and Shin
Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.
1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
What a privilege to serve the Lord! There are times that it is difficult to be what he wants us to be. There are times that others will try to make it hard for us to be faithful. In fact, Paul said that those who serve the Lord will suffer persecution. It may not be as severe as some have faced, but we all face it from time to time.
This happens because of the battle that is going on behind the scenes, in the spiritual realm. This battle has gone on from before the beginning of time and it will continue until the end of the ages. It is a battle between God and Satan, but you and I are the ones being used to fight this war. It is a battle for control of your will and mine, for our hearts and our lives. We must be faithful to God.
Everyone chooses sides in this battle. There is no such thing as neutrality or sitting on the sidelines. When we ignore God but still seek to be good people, we are on the side of Satan. Jesus said that the one not for him is against him. When we just try to enjoy life and take advantage of being happy, without regard to being devoted to God and serving him, we are on the side of Satan. We must choose.
The great news is that the victory has already been decided. God is the winner and we can be on his side. We are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ our Lord because the victory that overcomes the world is our faith in him.
O Lord God it is such a joy to be yours and to know that in the end, I am on the winning side for eternity. Keep me from thinking that my own goodness or my own works have somehow earned your favor. I know that I have sinned against you and have been unfaithful at times but I also know that the blood of Jesus is greater grace than all of my sin. As I live for you, help me show it in my love for others, in my kindness and compassion toward those who are suffering and who are struggling. Give them your peace and assurance. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
