Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 105:23-29
Ps 105:23-29
Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. They performed his miraculous signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made the land dark — for had they not rebelled against his words? He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die.
1 Cor 10:11-12
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
God loves you and God loves me. We read that, and we understand that as the people of God, we are loved. He loves us so much that he gave his Son to die as a substitute for our death, which we deserve because of our sin. He put all of our sin on the only one who never sinned, and then punished him with death because he was now considered sinful. Since Jesus died for our sin, we are now counted as being righteous, as though we had never sinned in our lives – free from sin.
But God did this so that everyone in the world, in all of history, could be given the opportunity to be free from sin and to have eternal life. God loves the drug addict, the murderer, the terrorist, the child abuser and me. Jesus died for all of us while we were guilty of sin, and therefore enemies of God. The great love of God, his tender mercy, and his marvelous grace, offers forgiveness to anyone, anywhere, who will come to Jesus in faith and have their sins washed away in baptism.
Israel lived as slaves in Egypt until God sent Moses to deliver them and give them their freedom. They did not have to fight for it, they did not buy it, they did not work for it. God gave it to them. God sent Jesus to earth to deliver us from slavery, slavery to self, slavery to our sinful desires, that is, slavery to sin. Like Israel in Egypt, we do not work for freedom, and we can’t buy it because it is a gift from God. We now belong to him as servants of righteousness, living for him.
O Lord God, help me truly realize what you have given me in Jesus Christ. Open my eyes to see your great love for me, and at the same time, to see how little I deserve your love and your forgiveness. As I realize the impact of this, help me be more dedicated to you and to doing your will. Let me start with my thinking, my attitude, my heart, so it will be set on pleasing you in all things. Use me to be a shining light in a dark world, so others will see Jesus living in me. Give your peace to those who are hurting and struggling. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
