- Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Psalm 85:1-2 – Our psalmist is recounting the way the Lord had moved in the lives of His people in times past and is pleading with the Lord to move in such a way again. The Lord had revived His peopled, shown steadfast love, and provided them the increase they needed. What we see in our verses above though is a beautiful aspect the psalmist understood about our God. He understood our God could forgive and cover sin. Many other places we could go to in our time of need could do some of the things listed off in this psalm for us. Governments can restore lost fortunes to us, a relationship could turn their anger from us, and even a stranger could choose to be favorable to us somehow. Yet only God can forgive and cover our sin. The government or some other person in this life has no power to take away our sin. They certainly can bring worldly blessings to our doorstep, but forgiveness of our sin comes only through the Lord. We then must understand that the revival in our live needs that forgiveness of sin. If all we believe we need is a little more favor and fortunes for us to be good again, then we’ll go to the places of this world that can offer us such things. If though we understand that the life we need comes through the forgiveness of our sins, then we’ll go to the only place that can do such a thing for us, Jesus. Revival in our life begins with the work only Jesus can do. Other things can make us feel good, only Jesus can make us holy. Turn to Jesus and find the life nothing else can offer you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3499
- Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Psalm 85:1-2 – Our psalmist is recounting the way the Lord had moved in the lives of His people in times past and is pleading with the Lord to move in such a way again. The Lord had revived His peopled, shown steadfast love, and provided them the increase they needed. What we see in our verses above though is a beautiful aspect the psalmist understood about our God. He understood our God could forgive and cover sin. Many other places we could go to in our time of need could do some of the things listed off in this psalm for us. Governments can restore lost fortunes to us, a relationship could turn their anger from us, and even a stranger could choose to be favorable to us somehow. Yet only God can forgive and cover our sin. The government or some other person in this life has no power to take away our sin. They certainly can bring worldly blessings to our doorstep, but forgiveness of our sin comes only through the Lord. We then must understand that the revival in our live needs that forgiveness of sin. If all we believe we need is a little more favor and fortunes for us to be good again, then we’ll go to the places of this world that can offer us such things. If though we understand that the life we need comes through the forgiveness of our sins, then we’ll go to the only place that can do such a thing for us, Jesus. Revival in our life begins with the work only Jesus can do. Other things can make us feel good, only Jesus can make us holy. Turn to Jesus and find the life nothing else can offer you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3499Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Psalms 85:8 – After reading psalms like this one, it’s a clear reminder that the one changing their faithfulness in this situation isn’t God. We are the ones that hold the possibility of turning back to folly, not God. God through remains faithful to us. He still speaks to us, still shows us peace, still offers to revive and restore us. We must remember that in our relationship with God He remains steadfast and stable. While we may become shaky, know God is stable like He was on your best day and that won’t change when you’re in your worst. Remain turned in His direction to see just how stable He is. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1148
- Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10 – All this must have taken place in order for you to have the life in Christ you have. God first had to have a love that was steady and unchanging throughout the course of history and through all our rejections of Him. That then had to connect with a faithfulness to His promises He has made to peoples long before our time to never leave us and to provide a way to life with Him. God then chose to not let His righteousness crush us in our sinfulness but allowed peace to be found. This is where He covered us instead and let His righteousness be our righteousness. As a result, we can now have life with God. I know, that’s a lot to process, but that’s kind of the point today. It is a lot and God did a lot to make is possible for you to have this life you have with Him. Let’s not misuse this precious life we’ve been given. Use it to draw closer to Jesus today and to point others to Jesus as well. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2045
Daily DEVO 