KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Chapters: Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63
Message: Taking God’s Path
Hello My Friend,
Did you ever hear of a five year plan? You set goal on what you would like to accomplish in five years. We all have goals and dreams in life, but the journey we actually take in life is rarely what we picture, even with a five year plan. Why? God. God has a path for us, each and every one of us, even if we do not know His Son as our Saviour. Yes, if we choose His Son, His path entails a lot of trials, and we are going to take a lot of detours in our attempts to figure out that path, but He is always with us, and will never leave us as long as we go through the right gate, and that is Jesus Christ. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14.
David was destined to be king, but there was one major problem that hindered that goal, the current king, Saul was so jealous that he wanted him dead and would stop at nothing for that to happen. On top of that, because David was such a great warrior, he had a lot of enemies. David wrote this Psalm praying to God to keep him on the right path.
“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.” – Psalm 17:4-9.
“Hold up my goings in thy paths,” It is important that we hold onto God’s hand in every step we take. We like to think that we are grown adults, but the truth is, we are God’s children and the only way we keep from walking into dangerous situations is by getting a good grip on His hand and not letting go. Temptation is all around us, and sometimes we are going to have enemies just for standing by our faith, but Jesus will never let us fall. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” – John 10:27-28.
The second we believe in and accept the Lord, Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God has an eternal life plan for us. While we are on earth, we are gonna go through some rocky roads, but God will give us the strength to endure all of it. David not only was being persecuted by Saul there were many false accusations against him by the very people he trusted. He wrote this Psalm, praying for God to deal with them all.
“Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.” – Psalm 35:4-9.
“and let the angel of the LORD chase them.” You know, God will allow the devil to afflict us, but he will never get our soul, not if it belongs to Christ. When we hold on to Jesus He will chase away our enemy, the safest place to be when we are being afflicted is with Jesus, who is able to give judgment upon it in the right way and at the right time. David did understand that also and wrote this Psalm when he was hiding out in the wilderness of Ziph, and the Ziphims told Saul that he was there.
“To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.” – Psalm 54:1-4.
“the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.” David has no other plea, but to depend upon than God’s name, no other power, but to depend upon God’s strength. You see, although David had many enemies, He knew that God was always with him, he may not have understood why he was facing so much affliction, but He knew who his soul belonged to. We too will face affliction, but we need not live in fear because Jesus will carry us through. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” – I Peter 4:12-13.
David, was known as the apple of God’s eye because he loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul. Was he perfect? Absolutely not! He had God’s favor because he was never too proud to admit that he was a sinner and needed Him every day. Now, after some time David realize Saul was never going to give up pursuing him he wrote this Psalm giving praise to God.
“A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:” – Psalm 63:1-5.
“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,” Life without God is no life at all, the things of the world may bring temporal happiness, but they cannot bring life to a dead soul, for without Christ there is not life for that soul. The enjoyments we receive in this life, health, riches, honor, friends, family, are nothing without the love of God. Those who know Christ as their Saviour, may not have the finest of things, they may not have their dreams come true, but what they do have is something more valuable than anything the richest, most powerful person will every receive, eternal life. So, while the path God leads us on is narrow and many times full of crooked and rocky roads, it is one that leads to the greatest victory, everlasting life. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” – John 6:27
Jesus Christ Magnified: Today, Jesus is revealed through the angel of the Lord, and the king (Ps 63:11) who will reign over all who are His. Those who heartily follow the cause of Christ who is to be manifested as King of Kings, shall glory in His victory at last. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” – I John 5:4.
Today’s Prayer: God, I know that your hand is in everything and I am trusting You to get me through every trial I face. I admit that instead of handing things over to You and letting You direct my path I have been guilty of trying to take my own path and it becomes more unpleasant than it needs to be. Lord, give me Your power to take the path the You laid out for me and not my own, to look to You whenever I am tempted to turn and walk away, and to face my fears with all Your strength. Let me find comfort through the unpleasant experiences I am facing and help me to always look to You no matter what I face. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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