Gospel Chapel Christian daily devotion

REMEMBERING GOD'S GOODNESS

 

Psalm 119:65-72, "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver."

God's dealings in His providence are to draw our hearts out of the world and into His Word so our hearts become settled in the Word of God. David saw the preciousness of God's leadings in providence which drew him to love God's Word. Do you see the value David placed upon the statutes of God and His law of love instilled in his heart? God's Word was far more precious to his soul than thousands of silver and gold.

We must learn to examine all our motives in the light of God's revealed will to see if they flow from the fountain of the law of love. Matthew 22:40, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." In other words, it is the law of love; the golden rule demands that we treat our fellow man with love, denying ourselves, and preferring others ahead of ourselves.

Love is the end or purpose of the law as we see in 1TI 1:5, "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." That is the intent and purpose of the law. Everything hinges upon the word love. When God's blessing is withheld or we see His loving hand in providence, we must not immediately see it as a token of His disfavor, but we must stop to examine our motives to see whether God is trying our faith or sending correction.

Asaph was envious of the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, but when he was in the sanctuary, when he examined his motives, he saw their end. When his understanding was opened, he saw God's precious gift of correction and restraint. PSA 73:22-24 tells us, "So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." Asaph saw the precious gift of the Father was in the central theme of love.

MAT 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Many live in a spiritual famine because they ask not, and therefore receive not, they seek not, and therefore find not, they do not knock and therefore do not obtain entrance.

We are not only to open our mouth in prayer, but we are to open it wide as we see in PSA 81:10. "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." The Lord shows us what He has delivered us from, telling us to look at all the things He has done for us. He has delivered us many times; remember them.

We also read in JOH 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." The Lord tells us that if we will come and seek Him, we shall find Him. If we will knock, He will open because if we who are evil can give good gifts, then "how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Amen.

Gospel Chapel Ministries – by Ralph Bouma
23 5th Ave SE
Conrad MT 59425
(406)278-5664

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