Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 97:1-6
Ps 97:1-6
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
Col 1:15-19
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
God is in control. Jesus has all authority. Nothing was made that wasn’t made the by God of the universe. Jesus is supreme, he holds all things together. When we believe this, we have no reason to fret or worry about the things of this world. It, along with all that is in it, will be burned up. This earth will be destroyed, and will be replaced by the new heavens and the new earth where righteousness dwells.
What do you see when you look around you? The only thing that some see is evil and corruption. They see hatred, strife, hunger, abuse, and other evils. Some see only the good things, like the birds, the stars, the flowers, the butterflies, and the beautiful sunrise and sunset. The contrast is between the works of Satan and the works of God. When people leave God out of their minds and lives, the result will always be wickedness. When we focus on Jesus, all the beauty shines around us.
When we are faced with trials, hardships, and suffering, we can turn to God, and he will lead us through. Read your Bible. Some of the best people that ever lived on the earth were abused and persecuted. As long as we live in this world, we will face the consequences of sin around us. Christianity is a heart religion. We love and serve God with all our heart. We then love and serve others from our heart.
O Lord God in heaven, give me a pure heart, a heart devoted to you and a heart of service to those around me. Shine your love through me for the world to see so they will come to Jesus and glorify your name. Forgive me when I fail to rejoice always. Help me have a perpetual smile for others and live a life of kindness. Use me to share the good news of Jesus and your saving grace. Give your wisdom to those who are trying to get loved ones out of abusive situations. Give your peace to those who are troubled and anxious. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
