Daily Devotional
March 21 - 27, 2010
March 21
Psalm 84
"How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the highways to Zion!" (v5). Years of walking with God had taught the psalmist that "a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside" (v10). Life without God looks attractive, temporarily. Then, after tasting the false freedom of being our own gods, the consequences crush us: guilt, despair, brokenness, and death. But when we choose to live in God's presence, He "gives grace and glory" (v11).
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield." He is the source of every good thing (v11).
March 22
Psalm 85
"For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; but let them not turn back to folly" (v8). God's desire for us is peace. Even when our choices lead to disaster, He pursues us in order to forgive us and cover our sin (v2). God's Kingdom is a place where "lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (v10) - and this life is possible through Jesus.
The difficult process of being formed into the image of Christ is for our good, so that "glory may dwell in our land" (v9).
March 23
Romans 9
"That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants" (v8). Paul was deeply sorry that many of his "kinsmen according to the flesh" (v3) - fellow Jews - did not believe in Jesus the Messiah. Yet, he explained that God does not regard people as we do, in categories determined by blood and culture. Abraham had many children (Gen 25), but Isaac was the child of faith in God's promises.
From the beginning, God was forming "vessels of mercy" (v23) - a family of believers united by faith (10:13).
March 24
Romans 10
"Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved" (v13). This promise didn't first appear in the New Testament; Paul was quoting the prophet Joel. Joel talked about the God who is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness" (2:13). Jesus was God in the flesh, expressing that lovingkindness by living and dying for humans. The surprising news Paul shared was that "whoever" believed, Jew or Gentile alike, could experience God's great compassion.
Our God is "abounding in riches for all who call upon Him" (v12). He overflows with love and mercy for those who will believe.
March 25
II Chronicles 8-9
"And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart" (9:23). When the Queen of Sheba visited, she marveled at Solomon's prosperity. She attributed this amazing success to "the Lord your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king" (9:8). Solomon's peaceful kingdom blessed those who came and learned from it.
This ideal didn't last (Solomon was only human), but it demonstrated what "the people of God" should be: a light to the world, reflecting the wisdom and love of God Himself.
March 26
II Chronicles 10
"If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever" (v7). Rehoboam was Israel's fourth king, and they felt little automatic loyalty to him. They had loved David for his courage, and Solomon had built the Temple. Wisely, the nation's elders advised Rehoboam to win the people's loyalty by kindness. But he rejected their advice in favor of oppression - and lost his kingdom.
Even God Himself (the King) wins us over by love, not harshness. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4).
March 27
II Chronicles 11-12
"But they will become his slaves so that they will learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries" (v8). It didn't take Rehoboam long to be unfaithful to the Lord. God allowed Egypt to invade Judah, and they stole all the treasures of the Temple. King Rehoboam and the people "humbled themselves" before God and avoided complete disaster. God wanted them to learn that serving Him was far better than serving an earthly master.
Independence is an illusion. Rehoboam was not his own master; he either served God or served evil.
