Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 109:16-20
Ps 109:16-20
For he never thought of doing a kindness but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted. He loved to pronounce a curse — may it come on him; he found no pleasure in blessing — may it be far from him. He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil. May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. May this be the Lord's payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.
James 5:4-5
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
The older I get, the more I am impressed with the simplicity of serving God. It does not require a doctorate in theology to know how to live for him or how to help others live for him. Over the years I have heard many talk about how simple it is to know and accept the “plan of salvation” that God has given, but even God’s way of being saved has been made difficult and perverted by many people.
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” But what does this mean in terms of our lives today? Respect God as God. Follow his will for us as revealed in his word. Jesus said we are to let our lights shine (that light is a reflection of his light) so others will see our good works and glorify the Father. Paul said we are to be imitators of God, as beloved children. Honor him as God. Give thanks in everything. Let others see Jesus living in us. Be humble.
God is love. Love does no wrong to his neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of the law, which includes loving God first and foremost and then loving others more than we love ourselves. Remember God is God, and we are just a very small part of his creation, so life is not about us. God is absolute honesty, the origin of morality, the source of kindness, compassion, and mercy and is personified in Jesus. To be like him means we are not greedy, we are not concerned with our “rights”, so our ego is removed from the equation of life. Life is about letting Jesus live in us.
Lord God, you have set the bar of life so high that I can never attain it on my own, but I know that you will give me wisdom and strength as needed, if I only ask. You have promised to let your Spirit live in me and mold me into your likeness, more and more each day. Help me open my heart to his work. Thank you for forgiving me when I fail to live up to your glory. Help me love you and love others enough that I will spend my days serving you by serving them. Give peace and healing to those who are sick and those taking treatments. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
