Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 83:1-8
Ps 83:1-8
O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you — the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot. Selah
John 15:4-6
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Being a Christian is more than going to church, keeping a bunch of rules, being on a committee, or doing good deeds by helping others. While these may be part of the Christian’s life, this is not what defines them. Being a Christian is being a follower and an imitator of Jesus. In fact, the most often used designation for the people in the Bible who followed Jesus is disciple. This is one who is a learner.
To truly be a disciple of Christ we must devote our lives to living for him. This is who we are, twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. It is seen in the way we talk, because this reflects what is in our heart. It determines the kind of husband, father, wife, mother, child, sibling, neighbor, fellow student, or fellow worker we are. As a disciple, we are being molded into the likeness of Jesus.
When Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit, he is showing what we are to become as we allow the Spirit to work in us. In another place he says we are to work out what God works in us, both to will and do what pleases him. We must submit to the will of the Spirit working in us, but at the same time, we must put forth the effort to practice these things in our lives. He will give us strength to overcome our fleshly desires and to accomplish what he wants us to become for him.
O Lord God, giver of life, breathe, and all things. Thank you for your love and for giving Jesus to be the substitute sacrifice for my sin so I can be free from the law of sin and death. Mold me into your likeness. Too often, as Paul described himself, I see myself doing things I don’t want to do or not doing what I should. Thank you for your continued forgiveness in Christ. Thank you for this great nation and for all of those who gave so much to make it happen. Please give our leaders the wisdom that is from above so we can live peaceful lives. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
