Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 141:1-5a
Ps 141:1-5a
O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.
Phil 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
One of the things we learn from scripture, and also from living life, but that many of us never consider, is that life is different for different people. Some are in a constant state of turmoil, maybe their own doing or maybe out of their control. It may be that others live a life that seldom knows any conflicts. Some live isolated from the “real” world and never know the temptations most people face.
The preacher who also teaches in a Christian school has no idea what his brother or sister faces each day while working in a plant. The vice-squad detective sees things on a daily basis that most Christians never see in their lifetime. The executive in his office suite is not faced with the same issues that the mechanic faces, and neither face the same temptations and problems of the farmer.
I say all of that to say, we need to be careful when we judge others and wonder why they do what they do. Sin should not be excused but Jesus felt compassion on sinners and gently guided them to give up sin and have a pure heart. None of us is above sin and we all face temptations of various kinds. Some are tempted by sexual immorality, some by dishonest gain, some by hatred and bitterness, and some are tempted the most to gossip or slander. We each need to live a pure life and show compassion as we help others be pure and blameless too.
Lord God, help me have your love made perfect in me so I will show compassion to all those with whom I come in contact. Give me a pure heart so I will see the best in others and want to help them live for you and at the same time, allow them to help me. I ask a special blessing for those who are abused and too often, forgotten. Give your healing to those who are sick and taking treatments and your comfort and peace to those struggling emotionally. Use me today to be what you want me to be and do what you want done. In Jesus name I pray.
Robert
