October 10
________________________________________LORD, IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, DELIVER ME
In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me.
3 For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
4 You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength. 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.
6 I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
8 And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a large place.- Psalm 31:1-8
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In the 16th Century, German monk, Martin Luther taught through Psalms, verse-by-verse to his students at the seminary. In his teaching he came upon Psalm 31:1. This verse confused him; how could God’s righteousness deliver him? The righteousness of God – His great justice – could only condemn him to hell as a righteous punishment for his sins. He also read Romans 1:17: For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed. Luther thought about this day and night, until he finally understood what the righteousness of God revealed by the gospel is. It is not speaking of the holy righteousness of God that condemns the guilty sinner, but of the God-kind of righteousness that is given to the sinner who puts his trust in Jesus Christ. Luther said, “I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Martin Luther was born again, and the reformation began in his heart. One great Lutheran scholar said this was “the happiest day in Luther’s life.”
The psalmist puts his trust in the Lord who knows all the troubles that his soul encounters. Shouldn’t we do the same? The Lord knows us very well and only if we trust in Him will he deliver us. Because He is full of mercy and lovingkindness, we are delivered.
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REFLECTION
• How can trusting God keep us away from evil or trouble?
Tag Archives: ILMA’S DEVOTIONAL
DON’T IMITATE WHAT IS EVIL BUT WHAT IS GOOD ILMA’S VLOG
September 28
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DON’T IMITATE WHAT IS EVIL BUT WHAT IS GOOD
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.13 I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
–3 John 11-15
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In this account, we are told what the Lord requires from all those who love Him. God wants them to do only what is good and right. He cautions them all to never have anything to do with evil or go in the way of wickedness. John tells us who are from God and who aren’t. Those who constantly do what is right and follow the Lord’s commands are the ones who belongs to Him. On the other hand, those who choose to sin and do what is evil has not seen and known God.
In this day and age, it is not easy to stay holy and focused on following God’s will. The world is full of corruption and evil. How can we actually avoid being tainted by the wickedness surrounding us? The Holy Spirit is given to all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As soon as one commits to God, they are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that gives them the ability to do what is right and follow God’s commands. They can only desire to please God if they are truly His followers. Those who do not believe in the Lord will never be able to do what is right, they will always follow their flesh. They have no capacity to choose what is good and what the Lord wants.
We are warned again and again to never be yoked with evil or to be involved with anything that will displease God. Tolerating evil or even being exposed to it can make believers contaminated. This is why the Lord wants us to avoid all kinds of wickedness.
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REFLECTION
• How can we avoid being contaminated by the corruption in the world surrounding us?
• Why is it important to be in the word of God?
• What would the world look like if we all keep away from all unrighteousness?
MY SOUL LONGS FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD ILMA’S VLOG
March 15
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MY SOUL LONGS FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD;
My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
At your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;
The early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!
10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold
From those who walk uprightly.12 O LORD of hosts,
Blessed is the one who trusts in you! – Psalm 84:1-12
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Easton’s bible dictionary defines “court” as the enclosure of the tabernacle of the temple of a prison or of a private house and of a king’s palace. This psalm is written by the sons of Korah namely Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph, (Exodus 6:24). The psalm speaks of their longing to be in the courts of the Lord, where his altar is. They bless those who dwell in his house, ever singing praises to him. It is a pilgrimage song which celebrates how special it is to worship in the Lord’s temple.
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ADORATION: Bless the Lord and all those who trust in him.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord when I do not totally trust in you with all my soul and mind.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving us a place to worship you in your house.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers remember to keep holy the Lord’s temple.
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REFLECTION
• In the present day, where is the temple of the Lord?