Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 97:7-12
Ps 97:7-12
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols — worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and rejoices, and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, O Lord. For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
Rom 12:9-13
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
God is love. We love that passage! God hates evil. There are some things that are an abomination to God. That means (to use physical ideas) that he hates sin so badly that it just makes him sick. In the days of Noah, he said he wished he had never made mankind because everyone was so wicked. They had followed their own wants and desires instead of letting God instruct them and lead them.
We live in a time when wickedness abounds. Satan is the prince of the power of the air. When he offered all the kingdoms on earth to Jesus, Jesus did not argue that they were his already or that they did not belong to Satan. Jesus is King of kings, and he is Lord of lords, but he does not force anyone to submit to him, so the world follows after the great deceiver, the father of all lies, the devil.
But that is the world. God’s people follow him, we imitate Jesus (at least this is our claim). For us to follow Jesus, we must begin with our hearts, and that begins with our minds and our will. Jesus said he came to earth to do the will of the Father. So, he conquered the evil thoughts that slipped into his mind. He overcame the desires that were contrary to the will of the Father. Even when he did not want to do it (“Let this cup pass from me.”), he said that he would do the will of God.
O Lord God, I pray that your will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven. I cannot answer for the rest of the world (or even for your people) but I can master my own will to make it conform to yours in all things. You want me to rejoice always, so I will share your love with others, with a smile today. You want me to have pure thoughts, so I will allow your Spirit to produce his fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in me. Give peace to those who are hurting and struggling. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
