Psalm 73

Daniel Corey Devotions

Psalm 73:25 b “…Besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”

One day, I hope to do a complete exposition and sermon series on this Psalm, but today let us focus on just one small gem that holds within it such profound implications. This verse forces us to ask one question which perhaps is so forward, so obvious, so outright that you might not have caught it. The question we ask our selves when we read this verse is, “Could I say that? Is that true about me?” The Psalmist says that besides the Lord, all things that lie outside of the boundaries of our beautiful Savior Jesus, all other pursuits, wants, longings, desires, passions, distractions, possessions, people, all things that are not Christ have no appeal to me! I don’t even want them! This verse is saying, “Lord I have searched my heart carefully, I have looked in the deepest parts of it and I have found that not only are You all that I need, You are all that I desire! You are all that I want! The world and all of the passing pleasures that fill it and assault my heart in attempt to get me to desire them hold no ground here Lord, because You have both filled and satisfied me, and I long for no other water but Yours.” This verse causes us to look deep into our hearts, deep into our desires and thoughts and ask, “Do I desire anything but Christ?” If you do, the Bible has a word for that, it’s called idolatry. The Lord often said that Israel did the right actions, but their hearts, their desires, were far from God. Don’t be deceived, your desires, if not focused purely on God, is idolatry.

I wanted this devotional to be shorter, so that you have time to sit and think and examine your heart. Let’s close in prayer.

“Father, you know my heart, my desires, whether evil or good. You are not fooled like everyone else, you see who I am inside. Lord, forgive me for only giving you intellectual ascent, for stopping short of honoring you with my thoughts and desires as well as my actions. Don’t let me fall into the darkness of this world and it’s lies, but keep my foot firmly planted on the rock of Truth. Jesus, be the center of my desires. Help me to search out those desires that are not for You and give me the strength to put them out of my life. Continuously encourage me to put off those worldly things I desire, no matter how seemingly minor, and help me to put on desires for You and renew my heart and my thoughts with your Word. Help me to be constantly thankful for the sacrifice that You made on my behalf. I thirst to be made more thirsty and I hunger to be made more hungry still. Grant me the courage to fight for the pure desire of You, so that I might please you and might be made more into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in Who’s name I pray, Amen.”

Whatever God Requires, He Provides

Whatever God Requires, He Provides

Austin Pryor

When God planned for Abraham to be the "father of many nations," He miraculously provided a son in Isaac. When God commanded Abraham to offer his only son as a sacrifice, He provided a substitute that He found acceptable in Isaac's place. Abraham called the mountain "Jehovah jireh," that is, "God will provide" (Genesis 22:13-14).

The life of Abraham is a striking example of a basic truth of the Christian life that Susie and I learned many years ago. It has greatly encouraged us in our daily walk with God and the choices we make. It is this: God can absolutely be counted on to provide all the means necessary in order for us to obey His commands or carry out His plans. In other words, He knows exactly what resources we need to stay in His will, and He always makes them available.

Searching through Scripture for occasions of this aspect of God's generosity makes for a great Bible study -- it is interesting and also very faith-strengthening. Here are a few to get you started:

When God planned for the children of Israel to go down into Egypt, He sent Joseph ahead in order to provide for them (Genesis 50:19-21). When God planned for the children of Israel to come out of Egypt, He sent Moses to provide the way. When Moses said he wouldn't know what to say, God provided Aaron to be the spokesman (Exodus 3:7-4:17). And when God required that a temple be built in His honor, He provided the means with which to build it (1 Chronicles 29:14-16).

Susie and I refer to this principle as "whatever God requires, He provides." I am mindful of this principle as seen demonstrated in Hebrews 1:3: "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (emphasis added). When God's righteousness required purification for our sins, He provided Christ as our Savior.

And as wonderful as that was, He didn't stop there. God continues to this very day providing each of us with the very best -- Himself. His Spirit lives in us, strengthening and empowering us to obey His commands. That's why God's requirement that we "be holy as He is holy" is completely reasonable. Consider:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

"He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:8-9).

"Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:22-24).

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).

In light of God's faithfulness, may we not grieve His great Father's heart with our sin-not merely because of the damage it does in our lives, which can be devastating, but even more importantly, because it demeans and devalues God's awesome gift of Himself. Let us rely on His strength, being mindful and thankful that whatever God requires, He provides.

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Wisdom will save you

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words
are perverse, It will save you also from the adulteress, from the
wayward wife with her seductive words,




Proverbs 2:12,16 NIV




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Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.




John 16:33 KJV




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But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the
world.




Galatians 6:14 RSV




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And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is
snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God
will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.




Ecclesiastes 7:26 NASB




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God, Whose grace is all sufficient, be glorified!




Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only


begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that


saves is faith in Him.

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Wisdom from above.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?


let him shew out of a good conversation his works with


meekness of wisdom.




But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,


glory not, and lie not against the truth.




This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly,


sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there


is confusion and every evil work.




But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then


peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy


and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.




And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them


that make peace.




James 3:13-18 KJV

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The benefit of wisdom is better than gold.

Proverbs 3

The benefit of wisdom is better than gold.

INSIGHT

Inherent within the human heart is a longing for peace, love, and joy. Among Christians and non-Christians alike, the desire is the same. Yet peace, love, and joy do not answer just any beck and call. They will come only by certain means; they are fruits on the tree of wisdom. Wisdom will bring length of days (v. 2), peace (v. 2), favor with God and man (v. 4), strength to your bones (v. 8), honor (v. 16), pleasantness (v. 17), paths of peace (v. 17), confidence in life (v. 26), and freedom from the snares of life (v. 26). Foolishness brings harm (v. 29), oppression (v. 31), and shame (v. 35). We all long for the benefits of wisdom. We must remember that she comes with a price: submission to the will of God and the truth of Scripture.

PRAYER

As you consider the benefits of wisdom, praise the Lord that we may share in His character:
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness (Exodus 15:11).

You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You,
nor is there any God besides You, according to all that
we have heard with our ears (2 Samuel 7:22).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord:
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
-- Greater sensitivity to sin
-- The ministry of your church
-- Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to God:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever (Psalm 23:6).