Daily Devotion

May 8, 2006

Psalms 119:146  I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

So many times the Children of Israel asked the Lord to save them from their enemies, only to return to their rebellious ways afterwards.  Due to their sins, God had allowed them to become prey to the nations around them.  After a few years they became desperate and promised to change, the Lord sent them a deliverer, and then a few years later, they were once again back to their disobedient ways.  Sad to say, this seems to be the perpetual story of mankind.

The keeping of the testimonies of God has one and only one purpose: to be a witness of God’s ways to the world, to be a representation of His Spirit and of His care and love.  David begged God to deliver him so that he could continue being a witness unto God.  There was no concept to him of salvation without *repentance--of a salvation that would not be for the purpose of continuing God’s work.

Therefore let us not hypocritically make promises of faithfulness unto God  only when we need His help.  God desires so much to show the world how it could and should be run.  He wants so much for the testimonies of His wisdom to be spread around the world, His righteousness to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.  Let us therefore promise instead, that whether God delivers us or not, we will obey, we will be the witnesses that he wants us to be through the “keeping’ of His “testimonies”. Obedience comes first, then God answers prayer!

Whoever you are in present trouble, whoever you are calling for God’s rescue, whoever you are shedding remorseful tears, whoever you are my friend, ask your soul this question:  What am I going to do with my Salvation?  My Lord has given all for me, what have I given to Him?  Will I return to Him dividends, of His life invested for me?

Luke 8:8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

* Repentance:  From the Greek word, “Metanoia”: turn around, U-turn, revolution.


ANECDOTE:
Bishop Moore tells the story of a little boy who was swimming one day in a lake when suddenly he suffered some type of physical difficulty and could swim no farther. The boy struggled for his life. He had gone under twice, when he felt the strong arm of a man lifting him. The man had seen the little boy's desperate plight and had swum out to save him. The man took the boy safely to shore and, after making certain that everything was well, turned to leave. The little boy said, "Thank you, sir, for saving my life." The man replied, "You're welcome, son. See to it that you are worth saving."
     Bishop Moore said that he has never forgotten those words, for he was that boy whose life was saved by a man who didn't even leave his name.
     A good question for the Christian to ask is, "Am I worth saving?" God in Christ has made a large investment in the life of each of us, and He has every right to expect a return of His investment.


Patrick Lumbroso
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http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/