Daily Devotional
June 13 - June 19, 2010
June 13
Psalm 100
"Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture" (v3). This psalm is beloved by God's people, because every time we affirm that we are "the sheep of His pasture," a huge weight falls off our shoulders. What a relief that we did not make ourselves! Our kind Shepherd "is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting. And His faithfulness endures to all generations" (v5).
We can "serve the Lord with gladness," because His faithfulness endures to our generation, too.
June 14
Psalm 101
"I will give heed to the blameless way" (v2). No one follows "the blameless way" naturally. We have to "give heed" or pay attention; we have to deliberately set boundaries that keep us on the path. The psalmist determined to keep his eyes (and passions) focused on God, not "worthless things" (v3). He was careful about what might "fasten its grip" on his heart. He avoided close relationships with those who despised God (v5,7).
"My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land" (v6). When our eyes and hearts are God's, the blameless way isn't so hard to follow.
Job 9-10
"For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge" (9:15). Job's helplessness forced him to recognize that a huge gulf separates humans from God; we are in need of mercy. "How can a man be in the right before God?" (v2). Job didn't know how to approach the Maker of heaven and earth, because "there is no umpire between us" (v33). Knowing he needed a mediator, Job was hesitant to plead his case.
Jesus the Mediator has done His work. We can talk with God without fear, as beloved children, because we have been declared holy.
June 16
Job 11-12
"Shall a multitude of words go unanswered ...?" (11:1). Job's loud outpouring of grief disturbed his friends. They had decided that Job needed to repent; his troubles were a consequence of his sin. "If you would direct your heart right ... you would be steadfast and not fear" (v13-15). But Job was a good man, and he affirmed over and over that the Creator was in charge. He just wanted an explanation for his pain.
Job's friends wanted him to quietly accept his situation. But Job wanted answers from the King of "counsel and understanding" (12:13).
June 17
Job 13-14
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (v15). What Job's well-meaning friends couldn't grasp was that Job, in his own way, was clinging desperately to the Creator. He never questioned God's existence or power, but he wanted relief from his troubles. Job conceived of God as all-powerful and far away; still, he said, "I will argue my case before Him" (v15). Even if God Himself was mysteriously involved in Job's disasters, Job declared, "I will hope in Him."
Job didn't turn to friends or idols - visible sources - for help. Stubbornly, he grappled with God Almighty.
June 18
II Corinthians 1:1-11
"But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation ..." (v6). Every believer eventually confronts the question: will I trust God when life is hard? In their worst difficulties, Paul and his friends discovered "the God of all comfort." In Asia, they "were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life" (v8). They learned "not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead" (v9), and they received an outpouring of abundant comfort in Christ (v5).
The God of all comfort becomes our God when we walk with Him through our troubles.
June 19
I Corinthians 1:12-24
"For our proud confidence is this ...not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world ..." (v12). An educated Roman citizen, Paul knew that "fleshly wisdom" would not approve of God's missionary strategy. Vulnerable, nearly-poor evangelists traveled around the Empire with the good news, and friends shared with friends. The message itself was strange and rather shocking: a Jewish teacher died and rose again; He is God and Savior.
Human wisdom cannot share God's love, heal a broken spirit, or bring peace. The grace of God is our "proud confidence."
