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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for December 2013
January 1, 2014
Psalm 119:1 – Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of God
Thought: One of the desires of all men is happiness. Most only attain it momentarily. Why? They seek happiness in the wrong way. They defy God’s law and walk in all types of defilement. This is the opposite of God’s plan for happiness.
Matthew 5:3-12
January 2, 2014
Psalm 119:2 – Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Thought: This is the second time that we read of happiness being tied to obedience to God’s Word. Note also that this obedience involves a “whole heart.” Divided loyalties involve a divided heart. This breeds confusion and sorrow, not happiness.
Proverbs 23:26
January 3, 2014
Psalm 119:3 – They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Thought: Those who reject God’s way often do so on the basis that living righteously deprives man of happiness. The opposite is really true. Happiness comes by forsaking sin, all sin. Those who do not commit wickedness do not wake to sorrow, pain, and death.
I John 5:18
January 4, 2014
Psalm 119:4 – Thou has commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Thought: How a person does something determines the difference between success or just getting by. So many Christians are just trying to get by. Their spiritual lives lack energy and meaning. These individuals would to themselves a favor by keeping God’s commandments diligently.
Deuteronomy 5:29
January 5, 2014
Psalm 119:5 – O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes.
Thought: The life of a man can be pointed in all sorts of directions. Each person has the ability to choose the direction he/she will go. Happiness is found only in keeping God’s Word. Thus, we should all long to have our ways directed in keeping with the statutes of God.
Jeremiah 10:23
January 6, 2014
Psalm 119:6 – Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Thought: One of the worst emotions that one can feel is shame. Shame involves disappointment, especially disappointment in one’s self. There is a way to avoid shame. It involves a pleasurable regard for God’s holy Word.
Jeremiah 8:9
January 7, 2014
Psalm 119:7 – I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Thought: One’s worship offered to God is a very personal experience. The psalmist begins with the words: “I will praise thee.” No one can worship for another individual. Once one has determined to worship and draws nigh to his God, the heart of the worshipper is of utmost importance.
Psalm 95:6
January 8, 2014
Psalm 119:8 – I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Thought: Resolve is defined as “coming to an earnest and definite decision” about something. In this text, we read of the psalmist’s resolve concerning the statutes of God. “I will keep thy statutes.” He did not say: “I might keep them.” He did not say: “I will keep some of them.” He did not say: “I will keep them until…” He said: “I will keep thy statutes.” True resolve is the key to man’s obedience to God.
Joshua 24:24
January 9, 2014
Psalm 119:9 – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Thought: Young men have a tendency to live “dirty” lives. Their mouths are filled with curse words. Their hearts are filled with evil and lustful thoughts. Their actions involve smoking, drinking, sex, and violence. Some say they are just “sowing their wild oats.” God says they are living lives of filth. Their ways need to be cleansed. Where do they begin? Cleansing starts by giving ear to the Word of God.
John 15:3
January 10, 2014
Psalm 119:10 – With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thought: God desires and deserves man’s “whole” heart. However, so often he only gives him part of his heart. The other part of the heart pursues the fleshly things of life or self-interests. A heart divided is weak at best. Eventually, it has to choose which thing will receive its complete loyalty. As far as God is concerned, if the heart is divided, one has already chosen. And, it is not He.
Luke 16:13
January 11, 2014
Psalm 119:11 – Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Thought: Hiding the Word of God within the heart is a lost practice for most Christians. The Word is read by some, but very few actually memorize its words. The practice is difficult and laborious. It takes repetition and more repetition. It is a slow go. The rewards, however, are phenomenal. One of the benefits is revealed to us in our devotional verse.
Colossians 3:16
January 12, 2014
Psalm 119:12 – Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
Thought: When the psalmist drew near to God’s law, he could not help but praise God. He blessed God because He was the author of this holy work. It was a good law and perfectly designed for God’s people. Barnes makes this statement in his commentary: “The mind is full of the subject; and the lips give vent to the feeling of gratitude and joy that such a law had been revealed to people” (Barnes, e-sword).
Psalm 68:35
January 13, 2014
Psalm 119:13 – With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Thought: It has been said by some that God has no hands but our hands. The statement involves the fact that the work of God has been committed into the hands of His people. In like manner, God has no lips but our lips. God has also entrusted His Word to His people. He desires for them to spread the message of His holy precepts throughout the world.
Psalm 71:15
January 14, 2014
Psalm 119:14 – I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Thought: There are many individuals who “bad mouth” the Word of God. Most of these individuals have never tried to live out its righteous principles in their lives. If they would, they would be as the psalmist. They would find a high degree of joy in the way of the testimonies of God. They would see that God’s Word is intended for man’s good and not for his detriment.
Psalm 1:2
January 15, 2014
Psalm 119:15 – I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Thought: Bible study involves several actions: reading, analyzing, deciding, memorizing, meditating, and applying. Meditation is the act of pondering the Word of God over and over again. This can be done at any time in the day. Try memorizing a verse today. Then, meditate upon it throughout the day. The holy thoughts that come to mind will literally amaze you.
I Timothy 4:15
January 16, 2014
Psalm 119:16 – I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Thought: One’s attitude toward something is of vital importance. Many in our world approach the Word of God with attitudes of negativity and rebellion. Not so with the psalmist. The statutes of God brought him joy, happiness, and even, amusement. The law of God was not a burden to his life. When he thought about God’s law, he leaped and skipped for joy.
Psalm 112:1
January 17, 2014
Psalm 119:17 – Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep they word.
Thought: When life is not plagued with problems and when our lives are filled with bounty, we are in a situation wherein it should be easy to serve the Lord. Sadly, it is when all is well that many forget the Lord and His law. If your life is good, push forth with greater faithfulness to the Lord.
John 1:16
January 18, 2014
Psalm 119:18 – Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Thought: God’s Word contains the thoughts of a divine, all wise, and all powerful God. Its mine shafts are deep. The treasures that can be brought forth from it are super-abundant. Man just needs to be able to see them. All of us should pray unto the Father saying: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold…”
Ephesians 1:17-18
January 19, 2014
Psalm 119:19 – I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
Thought: The psalmist recognized his true position on this earth. He was not a resident; he was a stranger. He was just passing through. The earth is a foreign land. It is a land with dark and winding paths. It is filled with wicked and violent men. Those passing through need a guide. They need a light. They need a map. Fortunately, God has given His commandments for this purpose.
I Peter 2:11
January 20, 2014
Psalm 119:20 – My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Thought: The psalmist states that his heart was crushed. Why? It was broken because of the deep, unfulfilled desire he had to know more of the will of his God. The psalmist just could not get enough of God’s precepts. He did not have the time, the energy, or the ability to know all that is contained in God’s Word. His lack broke his heart. Would that all had the deep desire for the righteousness of God that the psalmist had.
Matthew 5:6
January 21, 2014
Psalm 119:21 – Thou has rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
Thought: In this verse, we learn one of the reasons that man fails to give heed to the commands of God. It involves man’s pride. Man thinks that he knows best. He believes he can control his destiny. He affirms that he does not need God telling him what to do. He may even deny that God exists. The proud are cursed. Their arrogance is something God hates.
Proverbs 6:16-17
January 22, 2014
Psalm 119:22 – Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Thought: Those who call themselves children of God suffer reproach (disgrace) and contempt (disrespect) when their lives fail to correspond to the will of God. Others see their inconsistencies and know that they are hypocrites. Their enemies take advantage of their duplicity. They mock them. They point out their shortcomings to others. They revel in the thought that the religion of the true God is not worthy of diligent practice by those who say they embrace it.
Romans 2:21-24
January 23, 2014
Psalm 119:23 – Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Thought: Those who are in positions of power often have little respect for God and for those who seek to follow His ways. They speak against the faithful. They seek to harm the faithful. They desire to do away with any influence the faithful might have on others. These powerful princes are at odds with the Most Powerful and His people.
I Samuel 22:7-8
January 24, 2014
Psalm 119:24 – Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counsellors.
Thought: He woke up this morning and his heart was racing. He quickly washed his face and entered into his office. After a brief prayer, he opened the Word of God and began his 30 minute Bible study. This was his favorite time of the day. He longed for God’s voice to speak to him. Truly, his delight was in the testimonies of God. What about you?
Romans 8:6
January 25, 2014
Psalm 119:25 – My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken me according to thy word.
Thought: There are two senses in which man’s soul can cleave to the dust. First, the psalmist could have been in such dangerous circumstances that he thought death or the grave was near. Second, his soul could have longed for earthly things. Thus, he felt himself facing spiritual death. When man finds himself in either circumstance, where should he turn? The psalmist answers this in the second part of the verse.
Colossians 3:2
January 26, 2014
Psalm 119:26 – I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Thought: There is a verse in the Bible that says: “…he (God) careth for you” (I Pet. 5:7). There are hymns that exhort us to give all of our trials and troubles to God. The psalmist understood both of these concepts. In his prayers, he declared his ways unto the Father. As has been promised to all, he was heard. Resolve today to declare all your ways unto God.
I Peter 3:12
January 27, 2014
Psalm 119:27 – Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Thought: Some believe that God’s revelation to man can be understood in a number of ways and all of them be right. The psalmist did not believe this. He wanted to understand “the way” of the heavenly Father’s precepts. My friend, it is possible to understand God’s statutes. We need to approach God’s Word with this attitude.
Ephesians 3:3-4
January 28, 2014
Psalm 119:28 – My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Thought: Man appears to be strong at times, but the truth is that he is weak. He can quickly be brought down both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When man grows weak, he stands in need of strength. Here, the psalmist declares that his soul was melting for heaviness. He needed a good dose of medicine from God’s Word to help him recover. How is your soul feeling today?
Psalm 22:14
January 29, 2014
Psalm 119:29 – Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
Thought: It was not the habitual practice of the psalmist to lie. Thus, he was not speaking of his behavior. The inspired penman knew that there was only one way of truth. All other ways involved falsehood. He wanted any “way of lying” removed from him. He desired only to walk the truth path of righteousness.
I Timothy 4:1-2
January 30, 2014
Psalm 119:30 – I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Thought: In the previous verse, the psalmist referred to “the way of lying.” Now, he affirms that there is the “way of truth.” Both paths exist for man. Man must choose which one he will follow. The wise and discerning man will walk in the way of truth that leads to eternal life. Which will you chose? It is definitely your choice!
Matthew 7:13-14
January 31, 2014
Psalm 119:31 – I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
Thought: The word “stuck” means: “to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch” (BDB, e-sword). The psalmist was very cautious in his obedience to the divine commands. He adhered to them closely, not adding to or taking away from them. He definitely did not believe that the spirit of the law was more important that the letter of the law.
I Chronicles 15:12-15
Read devotionals for February 2014