Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 94:1-7
Ps 94:1-7
O Lord, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, O Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. They say, "The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed."
Rom 12:16-18
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Recently, I heard of a family where the father died, leaving several children. One of these did not come to his funeral and had not spoken to his father for several years prior to this. Before he died, the father told one of his other children that he loved them all, even the one who would not speak to him. This is sad! Almost as bad as this is when siblings will not associate or speak to each other. Usually there are a lot of excuses for this and wrong on all sides, while their parents grieve.
Even worse than this is when siblings in the family of God will not speak to each other or associate with each other. Often this is justified because one of them thinks that they have “truth” figured out better than the other and therefore they are more righteous than them. So, brothers and sisters in Christ live their lives in discord and disharmony when God has declared we are to be at peace.
Pride destroys people. Pride ruins relationships. Pride tears up families. Pride breaks up churches. Pride is abominable to God. Kings have been brought down because of pride. Pride has brought the destruction of nations. Pride is sin.
Paul says we are to have the attitude of Jesus and not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but to consider others better than ourselves, so that we look out for the interests of others and not just our own. This is the servant attitude and is the first step in serving God and living like Jesus. We must die to self so that Christ can live in us, and the Spirit can produce his fruit in us.
O Lord God, rid my heart of pride. Help me be like Jesus and to be willing to get on my knees and wash their feet when needed. As I see my own lack of self-worth, when compared to your majesty, help me remember that I belong to you because of your grace and your forgiveness, and not my own righteousness. I need you every hour of every day. I need your strength to do your will. Increase my faith, give me a pure heart, devoted to you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
