Choosing To Honor GOD

[WalterandDebbie]

Friday 7-2-21 Tammuz 21, 5781 6th. day of the weekly cycle, 12th. Summer Day

Choosing To Honor GOD

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; Psalm Eighteen:25

Our Daily Bread 2 July 2021 Today Devotional Friday Message By Jennifer Benson Schuldt (Our Daily Bread Ministries)

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 18:20–27

Key Verse: To the faithful you show yourself faithful. – Psalm 18:25

Bible in a Year: Job 22–24; Acts 11

INSIGHT: The superscription of Psalm 18 tells us that David “sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies.” David was considered a “man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Because of this, God had promised David (through the prophet Nathan): “I will never take my love away from [David] . . . I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever” (1 Chronicles 17:13–14). David would always have a descendant on the throne, and from his family line came Jesus (Acts 13:23). Yet David committed adultery and had a man killed. Why would God esteem such a flawed man? It was because David had absolute faith in God, evidenced in his victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17). He loved the Scriptures (Psalm 119:47), and when he sinned, he repented and sought God’s forgiveness (2 Samuel 11:13; Psalm 51).

Our Daily Bread 2 July 2021 Today Devotional Message
In the novella Family Happiness by Leo Tolstoy, main characters Sergey and Masha meet when Masha is young and impressionable. Sergey is an older, well-traveled businessman who understands the world beyond the rural setting where Masha lives. Over time, the two fall in love and marry.

They settle in the countryside, but Masha becomes bored with her surroundings. Sergey, who adores her, arranges a trip to St. Petersburg. There, Masha’s beauty and charm bring her instant popularity. Just as the couple is about to return home, a prince arrives in town, wanting to meet her. Sergey knows he can force Masha to leave with him, but he lets her make the decision. She chooses to stay, and her betrayal breaks his heart.

Like Sergey, God will never force us to be faithful to Him. Because He loves us, He lets us choose for or against Him. Our first choice for Him happens when we receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as the sacrifice for our sin (1 John 4:9–10). After that, we have a lifetime of decisions to make.

Will we choose faithfulness to God as His Spirit guides us or let the world entice us? David’s life wasn’t perfect, but he often wrote about keeping “the ways of the Lord” and the good outcomes that came from doing so (Psalm 18:21–24). When our choices honor God, we can experience the blessing David described: to the faithful, God shows Himself faithful.

Reflect & Pray
When was the last time you made a difficult decision that honored God? How did it affect your relationship with Him?

Dear God, help me to honor You with the choices I make. Thank You for loving me faithfully throughout my life.

Our Daily Bread 2 July 2021 Today Devotional Message. Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread.

(Visited 168 times, 133 visits today)

our Daily Bread 2021

Love always, Walter and Debbie

 

[Mayflower]

Reflect & Pray
When was the last time you made a difficult decision that honored God? How did it affect your relationship with Him?

I really like these games called Skyrim and Fallout 3. But I know that there are very bad elements in the games. I at first was convicted and only did the good quests in them. But eventually decided to give them up completely. I believe this has helped me in my walk with God as I die to things in the world. I think it is careful to guard the heart in devotion to God.

I also have had evangelism on my mind lately. There are dark corners online that the Gospel needs to be shared. I think prayer is needed in serving God and spreading His Word. That while my attitude needs to be "send me", it is important to go where God says to go and not force that if an atmosphere can cause you to go backwards in your spiritual walk with God. Young and impressionable is something to take into consideration! I hope to be a seasoned warrior to be able to walk boldly without fear in any area of the world. But something like street ministry, you have to be careful to not fall into sin. Online and offline there are plenty places like that. But the "field" has many places for harvest.

Anyhow, recognizing sin and repenting in areas is so important in the Christian walk.