KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every
Chapter
Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Chapters: Psalms 38-42
Message: More Than A Sacrifice

Hello
My Friend,

When I heard the devastating news that
forty-nine people were dead when a guy went on a shooting rampage, I
could not help, but wonder if any of them were saved. It is tragedies
like these that remind us that life can end in an instant, Jesus
loves all of us, regardless of our sin, He died a sinless death so
that we could live. I imagine He cries every time a person dies that
has not received Him, if they just trusted Him they would be with Him
right now. When we trust the Saviour, He blesses us with more than
salvation from hell, He blesses us with a new life. “Blessed
is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the
proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy
wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to
us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would
declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
- Psalms 40:4,5.

David wrote this Psalm to remind himself
that God is still merciful even when we mess up. Sin is destructive,
people die in their sins every day, but do not realize what they are
doing. When we belong to God, the guilt of sin carries a big burden,
and while we should repent of our sins, it is good to be reminded
that God is still faithful and merciful. “A
Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot
displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth
me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger;
neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine
iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too
heavy for me. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord
my God. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate
me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are
mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.”
- Psalms 38:1-4,15, 18-20.

“as an
heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” Sometimes we carry
this burden around with us that never quite goes away, perhaps
something we did in the past. Guilt from sin is harder to overcome
than sin itself, but we must understand that when we confess our
sins, Jesus carries that burden for us. There is nothing more
comforting to take our cares to Jesus, He loves us, He died for us so
we do not have to suffer in our sins, all we have to do to free
ourselves from the guilt of sin is confess them, and get under His
wing. “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John
1:9.

The tongue. There is nothing more destructive than
the tongue, especially if we are dwelling on something that happened
to us long ago. It is easy to speak harsh words to those in our
presence when we are holding on to something of the past. David wrote
this Psalm to keep himself from sinning with his tongue. “To
the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I
will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I
was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow
was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire
burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end,
and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I
am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is
as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is
altogether vanity. Selah.” - Psalms 39:1-5.

“while
I was musing the fire burned:” Musing, meditating. Sometimes
our mouths commit more sin than we do with our actions. I swear my
mouth always gets the best of me when I am irritated, which is when I
find myself thinking of the things in my past. I have this habit of
comparing those in my past with those in my future, just sure that
this person is like the one who caused me such pain. When I focus on
Jesus, He removes the irritation and helps me think good things
before I speak. While the tongue can be destructive, it can also be
helpful, there is nothing more comforting than to speak words of
encouragement to those who need it. “Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.” - I Corinthians 2:12,13.

To
make haste means to hurry, the second we go to God in prayer, whether
it is to seek forgiveness of sins, a need, or a healing, God gets
right on it. Now, it may seem as though He is not doing anything, but
part of getting things right with God is having patience to endure
the affliction as He is working. David knew this and while he did not
always understand why he had to wait so long, he did understand that
God had done some wonderful things in his life.

“Sacrifice
and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt
offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I
come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do
thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached
righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my
lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within
my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have
not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great
congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:
let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For
innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken
hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than
the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O
LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.” -
Psalms 40:6-13.

“Sacrifice and
offering thou didst not desire;” This is an amazing reminder
that while God knows we are sinners, more important than a sacrifice
is trusting Him, taking all our burdens to Him, confessing our sin.
You know, for those who do not know Jesus Christ, their book of life
has thousands of sins written down, the first one being that they
never received Him. For those who do know Him, they have no sin in
their book, it is wiped clean, what is in it is all the things we did
as ministers of God, and that is what we will be rewarded on, not our
sin. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my
reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
- Revelation 22:12.

Do you think David did not get a
little down at times? The Psalms prove otherwise. For about 10 years
he remained in exile, constantly on the move from Saul who was trying
to kill him. One thing David learned was that he must continually
praise and glorify God, even through his affliction. “O
my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember
thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill
Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all
thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command
his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be
with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God
my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the
oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies
reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art
thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God.” - Psalms 42:6-11.

“hope
thou in God:” No matter what we are going through, whether
it is something we did to ourselves or for no reason at all, God is
our hope, and He will see us through. Sometimes it may seem as though
God is a million miles away, but He is right with us. We just need to
awaken His Spirit by renewing ours. How? Sing praises to God and get
in His Word. We will find hope and healing when we get to God in the
way that He wants us to. “For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye
may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” -
Romans 15:4,13.

Jesus Christ
Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the rock of
David. Jesus is the only Rock upon which we stand that saves a hell
bound soul.

Today's Prayer:
God, Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to take our place on the
cross, to give us a way to be cleansed and free from the guilt and
destruction of our sins. You could have chosen any other way to
redeem us and let us become one of yours, but You gave Your flesh so
that we can live forever with You. Lord, I want to live a life that
is pleasing to you, I know I am going to mess up, but more than a
sacrifice You want my trust, my faith, my love in return, so that
when I do mess up I know I am a forgiven child of Yours and nothing
can change that. Lead me and guide me, let me be an example and
encouragement to others, and let me not pass up anyone who needs to
know Your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am
praying for you,
Christina

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