Daily Devotional For Thursday, September 4, 2025

Good morning Southside! You have probably noticed this, but has it ever dawned on you how little we do know and how much never makes any sense? Have you ever asked these questions?

1. Why do very bad and evil things happen to very godly disciples of Jesus Christ?
2. Why do people go into schools and just randomly kill students and faculty?
3. Why does it seem that some of the most evil and sinful people live the longest and happiest lives?

Have you ever felt like you were beating your head up against a brick wall? Have you ever wanted to quit, throw-in the towel and walk away from it all? Sometimes life can hit us so hard, you wonder where is God? Look at Psalm 119:33-34, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. (34) Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law, And keep it with all my heart” (NASB). David prayed that no matter what was happening to him that he did not understand or did, he promised God he would be faithful and obedient to the end. David knew that the most important lessons we need to learn are from God’s Word because that is what helps us to stay faithful to the end.

Education has become a god today, have you noticed that? As parents we want our children to get a good education and then a good job. When they are growing up, we make sure they are doing their homework and school assignments and projects. We even get them tutors at times to assist them. Why is it that many parents are not as tenacious with their children’s spiritual education and discipleship? We send out children off to secular and anti-Christian and anti-God universities and then wonder why they left the faith.

Why does the author of these words pray for God to instruct him in His commandments? In order that he might speculate and decide for himself which of God’s morals precepts and commands are up for discussion? Is it so that he with moral enlightenment speak eloquently on such subjects? No; but in order that he might “keep it unto the end.” 

Statues give us the limits or boundaries. They tell us how far we can go before we break them. If we obey God’s statutes, then we are blessed. If we do not, then we get disciplined by God and then He forces us to live with the consequences of our disobedience. Sometimes we want God’s blessings and benefits void of obedience to His word. We sometimes are the cause of our own nightmare, pain and grief. 

David acknowledges that God, our Father, knows best. The question is: do you and me? Since God is the Author of them all and since God is the principal subject and object of them all, this makes God the supreme preserver and maintainer of them all. David wanted God to teach His statues to him. Why? Because David knew that all teachers appeal to the mind; God appeals to our heart – the seat of our character. David knew that God’s statues lead to life and salvation. Man’ statutes often lead to loathing laws and slavery to crime. 

In Psalm 119, David makes it clear that God is the teacher and that we are His students. David knew how deadly evil, disobedience and sin were. He knew that many times we want to quit, give up and walk away because we feel hopeless that nothing is going to change. The Bible is full of people that God changed: a lazy Moses to a leading Moses; a fatherless Abraham to a father of a nation Abraham; a teenage boy David to a warrior king; a denying Peter to a witnessing Peter; a doubting Thomas to a full of faith Thomas; a persecuting Saul to a praising Paul. What God did for them He will do for you. 

Assignment: Reflect back over your life. When was there a time you had doubts, wanted to quit or give up on God and everything else? If you didn’t, what do you credit for not doing that? What difference has it made in your life to stay to the end with God?

Scripture To Meditate On: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. (8) And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, help me to obey Your statues and commands, not out of obligation but out of love and gratitude. Help me to finish well. I know that You are not finished with me yet. I want to be like soft clay in You, the Potter, molding me and shaping me for Your purpose, even when life does not make sense. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly