Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-6 (NLT) 1  Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 2  For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. 3  Trust in the  Lord  and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4  Take delight in the  Lord , and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5  Commit everything you do to the  Lord . Trust him, and he will help you. 6  He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.   Devotion:             Psalm 37 has forty verses. However, its main idea is summarized nicely in the first several verses. This psalm is categorized as a wisdom psalm because it mainly seeks to educate the reader or hearer about the ways of the Lord. It provides an optimistic outlook on life. The Lord provides us all of what is needed for enjoyment, happiness, and ...

  Scripture: Psalm 36:5-9 (NIV) 5  Your love, Lord , reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6  Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord , preserve both people and animals. 7  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8  They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.   Devotion:               The verses above proclaim loudly that God above is the source of all goodness. The psalm in its entirety is a plea for help, but most of the psalm praises God for His goodness and love. The verses above declare God’s hesed or steadfast, unchanging, love. The psalmist declares that God’s love reaches to heavens above and His faithfulness likewi...

Lord, Be My Salvation Scripture: Psalm 35:1-3 (NIV) 1  Contend, Lord , with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2  Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. 3  Brandish spear and javelin  against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.”   Devotion:               Today’s psalm is a longer psalm, but its message can be summed up in its first few verses. David, the writer of this psalm, is facing enemies who threaten him physically, mentally, and spiritually. David cries out to God because God is the only salvation that exists for him. David longs to hear words of salvation from the lips of God. Such words encourage David to battle with all his might against those who seek his life and very soul.               Who do we look to for aid when we are in danger, phy...

  Taste And See Psalm 34:8-14 (NIV) 8  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9  Fear the Lord , you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10  The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11  Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord . 12  Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13  keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.   Devotion:               The 34 th psalm dispenses wisdom to those who will listen and obey its teaching. As Christians we can take the first lines as referring to the institution of the Lord’s supper. We come to the Lord’s banquet seeking communion with Jesus in a new way. Old Testament listeners would ...

Scripture: Psalm 33:1-5 (NIV) 1  Sing joyfully to the  Lord , you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 2  Praise the  Lord  with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 4  For the word of the  Lord  is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 5  The  Lord  loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.   Devotion:               When we think of the book of Psalms, we may get different ideas that come to mind. It seems that there are psalms for every occasion. It is true that this collection of songs and poetry was composed for many different reasons, over a long period of time (nearly 2,000 years) and reflected almost every situation that could happen in life. Today’s psalm is mainly a hymn of praise to a God who has been very good to hi...

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11 (NIV) 1  Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2  Blessed is the one whose sin the  Lord  does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4  For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the  Lord .” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6  Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 7  You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9  Do not be like the horse or the mule,...

Scripture: Psalm 31-1-5 (NIV) 1  In you, Lord , I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2  Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3  Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4  Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5  Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord , my faithful God   Devotion:             Today’s psalm encourages us to run to God for protection. In the world there are many threats that come at us from all angles. Threats to our jobs and livelihood. Threats to our health and safety seem to abound everywhere. Violence seems to break out at every corner. What can a person do? Carrying a gun seems like a good idea to some. Learning a martial art seems wise to others. The ps...