Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 15:1-5
Ps 15:1-5
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
James 4:6-10
But he gives more grace. Therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
The Psalmist describes a person who has their mind, their heart, and their whole being set on serving God. When Paul says we are to keep our eyes on Jesus, he is saying that we are to watch him and to try to be like him. Since he is at the right hand of God, we are to make it our goal to be with him in eternity. We do not let the things of this world distract us from serving Jesus as our Lord.
There is no such thing as a part time Christian. Genuine Christianity cannot be compartmentalized. To be a follower and disciple of Jesus means that he leads us, and we follow in every part of our life. He dictates how we talk. He controls the priorities in our finances. We spend our time to suit him. We follow his will when we choose our friends, in the way we spend our leisure time, in the way we vote, and in every part of our lives. Our life is all about Jesus, not about ourselves.
This does not mean that we go around quoting scripture all the time. It certainly does not mean that we feel superior to others and look down on them or think that we are more righteous than they. It means we accept his forgiveness and then try to live in a way that others see him living in us in all we do and say.
O Lord God, this is a tall order because I get so involved in the things of this world and I let them distract me from using my time in a way that shows you are my Lord. I know that I live in this world, and it is necessary for me to participate in living and even to enjoy living. But I also know that when I follow your will for me, my life is more joyful and peaceful. Increase my faith. Be with those who are sick, those who are having surgery, and those taking treatments. Give them strength, peace, and healing, if it is your will. Use me to help them. In Jesus’ name.
Robert
