A Daily Devotional – Psalm 119:153-160 – Personal Meditation
Comment: The apostle James and the
half-brother of Jesus describes in his epistle that it is the pride of life
that sets in motion the daily battles and quarrels we sometimes involve
ourselves in. In James 4:1-6 the apostle speaks clearly that the desire to
fight and quarrel comes from within. This clearly identifies the sin of ‘pride’
which is not visible to others until we reach the point of expressing it. Pride
reacts to our lust, to our desire to do harm and to our desire to have. In this
condition, we often call out to God for help, but because pride is driving the
bus, our words fall short of God’s will. God will not answer a request where
pride is the motive. God only answers prayer when the request is humbled by
obedience to the Will of God. What is God’s Will? To give grace to the humble.
Devotional: Psalm
119:161-168
Daily we see or hear that the princes of our land or
doing or attempting to do things that seem right through the eyes of their constituents.
These things vary from the nonsense to the critical; like ‘recreational marijuana’
to redefining ‘marriage’ of one man and one woman. What should we do since
these are persecutions ‘without cause’ to the people of God. The writer of the
psalm says “But my soul/heart stands in ‘awe’ of Your Word. I rejoice at Your
Word as one who finds ‘great’ treasure.
Pride reaches a boiling point to react to the will of
mankind and their schemes, but those who wait on the LORD, that is; those who
love the law of God will pray often. God’s Word has shown us what to do in all matters
pertaining to life and liberty. Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you O man, what is
good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
We hate and abhor lying, but we love the law of God;
God’s judgments over all matters of life are Right and His Righteousness will
rule. In coming to Him in prayer and meditation we gain the peace that goes
beyond all human understanding; see Philippians 4:4-7; this understanding that
guards our humble heart will be a far greater instrument of justice in the face
of those who do seek good through the practice of evil.
There is never a time to complain through the boastful
pride of life, yet we seem to default to this way over everything that rubs us
the wrong way. There is always time for prayer and meditation on the wonderful
Word of God, yet we seem to be ‘out of time’ to do so. Our soul is willing to
keep the precepts of God, but our flesh seeks to rule.
Therefore, says the apostle James, submit 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 heart you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to
mourning and our joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the ‘sight’ of the LORD,
and He will lift you up; James 4:7-10.
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