“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.“ Genesis 1:27
If God created mankind male and female and He created each of us in our mother’s womb, as the Bible teaches in Psalm 139:13-16, who are we to say that our infinitely wise Creator, who created and stretched out the entire universe (Isa. 40:22), got it wrong when He created each of us either male or female?
O all-wise and almighty God, grant us the wisdom to humbly trust in You and rejoice in Your creation of the universe and of our own bodies and souls. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was on my tongue.” 2 Samuel 23:1-2
David, the human author of so many of the psalms in our Bibles, recognized that it was the Holy Spirit who spoke by him. In other words, though David penned the Psalms, they weren’t his words and his thoughts but those the Spirit of God gave him and moved him to write. And this is true of all of the Bible. Though God used human authors and their writing styles, the words they wrote were not their own but God’s. It is as Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:21: “For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Grant that we view the Bible as Your inspired Word, O God, and accept and believe its every word and message, repenting of our sins and trusting in Christ Jesus, Your Son and our Savior, for forgiveness and life. In His name, we pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1833 Webster Version of the Bible.]
“The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” 2 Samuel 23:3
Here is God’s Word regarding earthly rulers. They are to be just and punish evildoers, not showing favoritism, and they are to rule “in the fear of God,” meaning they are to be guided by God’s Word and honor and respect the LORD God and His will in all they do.
O LORD God, our Maker and our Redeemer, grant us godly rulers who love You and Your Word and honor You in all they say and do. We ask this for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1833 Webster Version of the Bible.]
“And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” John 2:13-16
Our churches are to be houses where we hear God’s Word and offer up our prayers and praises. They are not to be places for us to buy and sell and do business. Many seem to forget Jesus’ zeal for the Lord’s house and treat it like a marketplace to sell music, books and other items.
“LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth” (Psalm 26:8). Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Psalm 25:6-7
How do you want the LORD God to remember you? According to your thoughts, words and actions? Or according to His tender mercies and lovingkindness? With the psalmist, we pray that God would forgive and forget our sins, past and present, and view us in accordance with His tender mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead.
Look at me in mercy, O LORD, and forgive my sins for Jesus’s sake! “According to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1833 Webster Version of the Bible.]
