Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 49:10-15
Ps 49:10-15
For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah
Luke 16:22
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
I come from a preaching lineage. My grandfather was a preacher. My dad was a preacher. Three of my brothers are or have been preachers. I am not sure but between five and seven of my uncles were preachers. I have been taught and have studied the Bible for over seventy years. I attended schools for thirteen years that taught the Bible daily. This means that I have a really good understanding of the Bible and what I believe is right. So if you don’t agree with me, you are wrong.
WRONG! No matter how much I may know or understand, my knowledge, my thinking and my understanding is not the standard. Just because I believe it or say it, does not make it right. Jesus has all authority. The Bible is the standard. It is my place to study and pray for wisdom to understand but it is not my place to try to judge others or make them line up with me and what I believe to be right.
Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said” … The religious people around Jesus thought that if a person was religious and wealthy, God must approve of them. But the story that Jesus told shows us that our approval by God is not based on our wealth or our social standing. “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
O Lord, help me live every moment of my life with the realization that it is short, and I am only here on earth for a brief time. Give me wisdom to understand your word and to put it into practice. Keep me from being judgmental toward those who differ with me. Forgive my failures and my misunderstandings as you guide me and mold me to be like Jesus. Use me to help someone who is hurting so they will know your joy and your peace. Give me ears to listen and a heart that will feel what they are feeling. In the blessed and holy name of Jesus I pray.
Robert
