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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for September 2014
October 1, 2014
Psalm 119:98 – Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Thought: We are often not aware when one of our enemies will surface to challenge us. If we have God’s Word with us, we will always be wiser than they are. The only way God’s Word can be “ever with” us, is through diligent study, meditation, and memorization thereof. Don’t wait until your enemies attack to make ready. Be prepared. Hide God’s Word in your heart today!
James 1:25
October 2, 2014
Psalm 119:99 – I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Thought: Man versus God. Man’s wisdom versus God’s wisdom. These are the two choices that exist in spiritual education. Far too many seek after man’s wisdom. They acquire all types of degrees. They think themselves wise. The student of the Word of God is wiser. This student has elected to be educated by the teacher who holds all knowledge in His hand. You would do well to make the testimonies of God your meditation.
Jeremiah 8:9
October 3, 2014
Psalm 119:100 – I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Thought: This is the third time that the psalmist notes that he is wiser than someone else. He is wiser than his enemies (v. 98). He is wiser than his teachers (v. 99). Now he is wiser than the elderly. The key to his wisdom is in his understanding and practice of the Word of God. Knowing God’s will and doing it make one a wise person. How wise are you?
Proverbs 1:5
October 4, 2014
Psalm 119:101 – I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Thought: The word of God provides a path for man to walk. Those who walk therein walk in truth, not error. They walk in holiness, not evil. Staying in the path can be difficult. It is a strait and narrow way. One has to walk intentionally. Other paths call. The righteous must refrain from the paths of evil. Walking in the path marked by God’s Word will ultimately bring one into the joys of heaven.
Proverbs 1:15
October 5, 2014
Psalm 119:102 – I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Thought: If a person has been taught the Word of God correctly, he should never depart from the truth. That person is free. That person has a relationship with God. That person has strength to live in this life. That person has hope in the hereafter. Yes, if you have been taught the Word of God, please, please, do not depart. If you do, the latter end is worse than the beginning.
II Peter 2:20-22
October 6, 2014
Psalm 119:103 – How sweet are thy word unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
Thought: Most of us love sweets. Cakes, pies, cookies, and candies sit well on our taste buds. If we let ourselves, we could devour these in large quantities. When a good heart encounters the Word of God, it has found a delicious sweet. It can be eaten in large amounts with no harm to one’s waistline or health. In fact, this sweet builds and strengthens the inner man. Think about that! God’s Word is a sweet that is very, very good for you!
Proverbs 24:13-14
October 7, 2014
Psalm 119:104 – Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Thought: There are some things that God’s Word authorizes us to hate. One of the things that the child of God should hate is “every false way.” False ways lead to destruction, disaster, and damnation. The only way to determine whether something is false is to first know the truth. My friend, come to an understanding of the precepts of God. Only then will you be able to hate the many false ways that exist in our world.
Proverbs 8:13
October 8, 2014
Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Thought: There are many different kinds of lights. Some are stationary. Some are dim. Some are covered by other objects and cannot shine in the direction they should. None of these scenarios applies to the Word of God. It is not stationary. It moves with us as we walk through life. It is an extremely brilliant light. There is nothing covering it. It is open for all to see. My friend, let the light of God’s Word direct your path today!
Psalm 43:3
October 9, 2014
Psalm 119:106 – I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Thought: It is easy to make a promise. It is much more difficult to keep it. We live in a society wherein empty promises are made all of the time. From our politicians to husbands and wives, false promises fill the air. The psalmist swore to keep the judgments of God. He also added these words: “I will perform it.” Have we made the same promise? Are you willing to make such a promise? For our spiritual well-being, we need to promise to keep God’s Word!
II Kings 23:3
October 10, 2014
Psalm 119:107 – I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.
Thought: It is not pleasant to face so many trials that one feels as if death is better than living. Even if suicide is not in one’s mind, life can be drudgery. A person can be depressed and life can feel as if there is no purpose. One can long for death. In such times, the child of God can turn to God’s Word. Therein is life! It gives purpose to life now and excites us to a life in the hereafter.
James 5:10-11
October 11, 2014
Psalm 119:108 – Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.
Thought: A freewill offering has at least two characteristics. First, it is voluntary. It is not forced. It is not given because of duty. It is done because one wants to give. Second, it is spontaneous. At any time during our day, we can offer up freewill offerings from our mouth to God. They can spring from joy. They can be the result of sorrow. God will accept these from a heart that longs to learn and do His judgments.
Deuteronomy 23:23
October 12, 2014
Psalm 119:109 – My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Thought: God’s Word has been given to man so can continually keep it in mind. In so doing, he can walk in the light. He can walk in fellowship with God. He can walk knowing his final destination. Forgetting God’s law, therefore, is a dangerous thing. Darkness, loneliness, and a devastating end come to those who forget. Let’s be as the psalmist who said: “…yet do I not forget thy law.”
Deuteronomy 4:9
October 13, 2014
Psalm 119:110 – The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Thought: The wicked will always be the enemy of the righteous. They will seek to ruin and destroy God’s people with all sorts of snares. The godly must remain steadfast to their God. They must resolve to obey. They must refuse to err from the paths of righteousness. Let’s try to end every day with these words: “…yet I erred not from thy precepts.”
Daniel 6:10
October 14, 2014
Psalm 119:111 – Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Thought: Are the testimonies of God the rejoicing of your heart? Do they bring you pleasure? Or, do you disregard them? Perhaps you argue against them. Instead of being your delight, they are your disdain. Even those who claim to love God can feel this way about His Word. These individuals think they can divorce God from His Word. It is not possible. God revealed His will for the betterment of His creation. May His word cause your heart to rejoice!!!
Jeremiah 15:16
October 15, 2014
Psalm 119:112 – I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.
Thought: It is easy to get something started. It is much more difficult to bring something to a conclusion. People start projects, then quit. Individuals enroll in school, then stop. Employees begin jobs, only to resign. Seeing things through is difficult. This is especially true of our obedience to God. Some purpose to obey, but soon stop. Not the psalmist. He purposed to do the will of God “even unto the end.”
Hebrews 3:6
October 16, 2014
Psalm 119:113 – I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
Thought: There are so many thoughts that are publically aired today that are vain, empty, and useless. Such is not the case when a person contemplates the law of God. These thoughts are rich and full. Oftentimes, they are deep and perplexing. They challenge the mind of man. When put into practice, they cause life to no longer be vain. Yes, we should say as the psalmist: “…thy law do I love.”
II Corinthians 10:5
October 17, 2014
Psalm 119:114 – Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Thought: Many people have put their hope in the words of men only to watch that hope dashed to pieces. The only place to which one can turn wherein hope will always remain constant is in the Word of God. God’s Word is sure and steadfast. It cannot fall to the ground like the words of men. My friend, build your hope on something certain. Build your hope on something divine. Build your hope on the precious Word of God.
Psalm 130:5-6
October 18, 2014
Psalm 119:115 – Depart from me, ye evil doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
Thought: When the child of God makes up his mind not to do something, he must also resolve to do something. The psalmist removed himself from the evil doers. He, then, filled that void by keeping the commandments of God. An empty house will not remain that way very long. The householder can intentionally fill it, or, someone will fill it for him. As you turn from wickedness, turn toward the practice of righteousness.
Matthew 12:43-45
October 19, 2014
Psalm 119:116 – Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Thought: Resurrection, heaven, and eternal life are wonderful elements of our hope. They motivate us to keep being faithful. They enable us to experience the hardships of life without giving up. The world, however, makes fun of our hope. They want us to be ashamed of our hope. We will not do that. Our hope is real. It is tied to Jesus Christ who is anchored beyond the vail.
Hebrews 6:19-20
October 20, 2014
Psalm 119:117 – Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
Thought: If a person is going to keep the law of God, he must have respect for the commandments. To develop a healthy respect for truth, a person must first be willing to look honestly at the word of God. When he does, he finds an inspired message from God. He sees a book that will equip him for all of life’s issues. He sees a book that will save him from his sins. He sees a manual that will guide him to his home in the hereafter. An honest look will put him in awe of God’s Word.
Psalm 19:7-11
October 21, 2014
Psalm 119:118 – Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
Thought: Anything, anything that deviates from the truth of God’s Word is deceit and falsehood. God’s Word is truth. Truth saves. Error, on the other hand, causes men to be lost. If those who proclaim falsehoods will not change, God will make certain that they are trodden down. All who oppose God’s truth will ultimately come to a horrible end.
II Timothy 3:13
October 22, 2014
Psalm 119:119 – Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Thought: The testimonies of God are the things that cause the wicked to be condemned. They are the standard of judgment. Those who oppose them will be sentenced to death in the divine court of the Almighty. The godly love God’s standard that judges the wicked. They know that justice will prevail. In God’s court room, the righteous triumph.
Matthew 25:41
October 23, 2014
Psalm 110:120 – My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
Thought: The psalmist had a very healthy respect for the presence of God and the judgments of the Lord. His esteem for them caused him to tremble. He understood their value in his life. He realized that God and His Word were his salvation. Without them, he would grope in darkness. Without them, there would be no hope. All of mankind needs to tremble before God and be afraid of His judgments. I need to tremble before God and be afraid of His judgments.
Isaiah 66:2
October 24, 2014
Psalm 110:121 – I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
Thought: When we have acted with fairness to others, we desire the same. Such, however, is not always the case. Our honorable acts of justice are not always repaid, especially by those who oppress us. They like to build strong cases against us. They want the full measure of the law applied. Our death is what they often desire. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Mark 15:12-14
October 25, 2014
Psalm 119:122 – Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
Thought: The proud are those who have an overestimation of self. They believe they are worth more than they really are. They think that they know more than others. They are convinced that they are the standard of excellence in all things. If anyone arises as a challenger, he is oppressed. The psalmist had experienced such oppression. He knew his help was in God. Therefore, he calls upon God to be a surety for him.
Proverbs 28:25
October 26, 2014
Psalm 119:123 – Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
Thought: It is said that Thomas Campbell used to study standing up. Too, he had a small bowl of water by his podium into which he would dip a sponge to wet his eyes when they grew weary in study. How many of us have grown that weary in the study of God’s Word? Have your eyes ever failed for the word of righteousness? It boils down to desire. How much knowledge of God’s Word do we really want?
I Peter 2:2
October 27, 2014
Psalm 119:124 – Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Thought: Teach me thy statutes. This is one of the key elements of acquiring knowledge. We have to long to be taught, but to be taught takes a long time. Thus, many say they long to be taught, but do not have the time it takes to learn. One person said to a minister: “I would give my life to have your knowledge.” In reply, the minister said: “That’s what I had to give to possess it.” When you say: “Teach me thy statutes,” are you willing to invest the time necessary to learn?
John 6:45
October 28, 2014
Psalm 119:125 – I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
Thought: A true servant desires to do the will of his master. To properly do the master’s will requires an understanding of the thing commanded. The psalmist knew this. Therefore, he yearned to have understanding. Understanding involves the ability to discern and distinguish. May God help all of us who long to be His servants to have an understanding mind when it comes to His testimonies.
Ephesians 5:17
October 29, 2014
Psalm 119:126 – It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.
Thought: Man does not desire to be under the authority of the law of God oftentimes. He violates the law. He tries to go around the law. He modifies the law. He adds to or takes from the law. He rationalizes and justifies his actions against the law. Instead of following the law, he makes it void. The purposes for which God’s law exist do not come to pass. When this happens, it becomes time for God to work.
Matthew 15:3-6
October 30, 2014
Psalm 119:127 – Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
Thought: Love is a powerful emotion. It involves a relationship. The psalmist had a relationship with the commands of God. He understood their benefit to his life. They guided him. The protected him. They brought him into a saving relationship with God. Yes, he possessed a loving relationship with God’s law. Where do you stand in your relationship with God’s Word? Can you honestly say that you love it.
Proverbs 2:10-11
October 31, 2014
Psalm 119:128 – Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
Thought: If we were traveling, we would not appreciate someone sending us the wrong way. We would be angered if our GPS sent us in the wrong direction. We would be upset if at the end of the road we were at the wrong destination. Yet, many do can seem to care if they are not on the “right way” spiritually. In fact, many are heading in the wrong direction and are enjoying the ride. We should not do this. We must develop a hatred of every false way.
Proverbs 14:12
Read devotionals for November 2014