Tuesday 15 May 2012

Tuesday Reading: Psalm 16:1-11

Key Verse: Psalm 16:1
1  Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Devotion:
How can anyone submit Psalms to be read without including a Golden Psalm, a Michtam? When we read through the words of this Psalm and think about what they say we can be strengthened in knowing that David knew God’s strength and encourages us to depend on it too; but we also see parallels in Christ’s life on earth as He totally depended on God the Father too. How else could a person go out into the wilderness and survive for forty days without the hand of the Almighty intervening? How else could any man face Satan and prevail other than by knowing for a fact that God is with them and strengthening them?

No matter how much we are able to do, how righteous we are able to act, how much we are able to avoid sin – not matter how far we are able to reach, it is nothing compared to the righteousness and holiness of our God! But by seeing just how much Christ was able to do in the form of man we can then look forward to what we may be able to be like once we are given our place in Heaven. It is through what Christ has already done for us that we are able to reach forward to the high calling of God our Father and nothing that we can do. It is because of all that He has done for us that we can look forward to the marvels of our future with Him.

The more people seek after other gods, of this earth or wherever they seek them, they will only end up finding disappointment and discouragement whereas when we seek God we find encouragement and joy. But it does not end there because when the time comes for them to face our Lord in their final judgement they will find out that all they have tried to do through all their sacrifices and works will account for nothing. What Christ has done for us is what will count in that final judgement because Christ alone will be able to stand up and say “I knew this person” and “I have forgiven them of all their sins”!

It is because of this that we need to lift up the name of Jesus, praise our Holy God and make sure that we know that each and every day of our lives. It is not just that we have a safe haven for our souls after our bodies expire; it is that we have a place in glory for our physical bodies as well! It is also that we have a place here on earth under His wings wherein we will find peace and rest even when the world is in turmoil around us. Yes we will still face many dangers and sad times just as others will, but our joy is a future in heaven!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you think about what you do in life?

How often do you think of what Christ has already done for you?