"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 119:18 (KJV)
Daily Devotion in Psalm 101
Daily Nugget:
“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Psalm 101:2
Successful people often reveal how they obtained so many achievements and victories. David did just that in Psalm 101. He accomplished what he did not because of his wealth and powerful position. David attained so much because he behaved “wisely in a perfect way” (Psalm 101:2).
In this Scripture, “perfect” was not referring to sinlessness. “Perfect” in this context means “moral, upright, sincere, undefiled.” The leader of Israel tried his best, although he did fall several times, to live the way that was pleasing to the Lord.
David revealed several ways he kept from falling even more than he did.
- If David had television in his day, there would have been many programs he would not have watched. He protected his eyes from seeing the wrong things (Psalm 101:3). He may not have had the number of pornographic temptations that wait to snag wandering eyes today, but he had to divert his vision not to see things that would lure him into sin.
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:…” (Psalm 101:3) - He avoided those who were lazy and did not work (Psalm 101:3).
“… I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Psalm 101:3)
- He would not allow himself to be self-willed and unreasonable (“froward” — Psalm 101:4).
- He avoided those doing wickedness (Psalm 101:4).
- He kept from those who talked ill of other people (Psalm 101:5).
- He kept from those lifted up in pride (Psalm 101:5).
- He surrounded himself with others who also worked or tried to live the “perfect way.” (Psalm 101:6)
- He kept his distance from deceivers (Psalm 101:7).
- He avoided liars (Psalm 101:7).
- He did all he could to stomp out wickedness in the lands he controlled (Psalm 101:8).
Although this Psalm was written over 3,000 years ago, every behavior that David did to protect himself from falling into sin would help people today if they were also practiced. Temptations surround every single one of us. We will also be inclined to sin if we do not separate ourselves from those destroyers of our testimony and joy. Avoid the wrong influences, or you will succumb to sinful behaviors and do evil.
Today’s Thought:
“The world is not seeing Jesus because Christian people are not filled with Jesus. They are satisfied with attending meetings weekly, reading the Bible occasionally, and praying sometimes. It is an awful thing for me to see people who profess to be Christian that are lifeless, powerless, and in a place where their lives are so parallel to unbelievers lives that it is difficult to tell which place they are in, whether in the flesh or the Spirit.” — Smith Wigglesworth
Words to Understand:
Froward: self-willed, unreasonable
High look: being prideful, arrogant, thinking oneself better than others
Slandereth: giving a false, hurtful report about another person, falsely defaming another
Today’s Reading:
Psalm 101
1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.