{"id":4204,"date":"2024-04-17T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/?p=4204"},"modified":"2024-04-17T11:20:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T03:20:26","slug":"daily-devotion-april-17-2024-rules-and-rulers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/2024\/04\/17\/daily-devotion-april-17-2024-rules-and-rulers\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotion (April 17, 2024): Rules and Rulers"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.21.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Please read Psalm 119:121\u2013128<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, I love Your commandments<\/span><\/p>\n

Above gold, yes, above pure gold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 119:127<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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DEVOTIONAL<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

by Sandra Chua<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Who likes rules? I am following an exercise video, and the instructor said, “There are no rules!” Who likes to be constrained by rules? We like to be free to do what our hearts desire. Why do we hate rules? Aside from limiting our freedom, at the back of our minds, we are probably thinking that the people making these rules just want to make our lives harder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading Psalm 119,\u00a0 I came across several verses that expressed the love for rules, commandments, testimonies, statutes, etc. “Wow! This must be a really good person,” I thought. What makes this Psalmist love God’s commandments that he should treasure it not only like gold but \u201cabove\u201d gold?<\/span><\/p>\n

Mulling over this idea, I found the answer through verses interspersed throughout the chapter. Verse 123 says, “My eyes fail with longing for Your salvation and for Your righteous word.” He knew God was capable of saving him. He knew God was righteous.\u00a0 Verse 124a says, “Deal with Your servant according to Your graciousness.” He knew God was gracious. Verse 125b says, “…give me understanding.” He knew wisdom comes from God. Verse 126, “It is time for the Lord to act, For they have broken Your Law.” He knew God is just. He will punish law-breakers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Psalmist went back to the One who made the commandments, the One who instituted the statutes, the same Gracious One (v. 124). The God who is just and has decreed these things to make my life not harder but better. He has given these rules to protect, guide, and make me wiser. He loves God’s rules because he knows his God. How well do you know yours?<\/span><\/p>\n

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REFLECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

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How do you feel about God’s commandments? Why do you think God gave so many rules to follow? Go back to God’s character and what you know about Him to understand His laws. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dear heavenly Father, all wisdom and understanding come from You. Your everlasting love protects us from ourselves through the laws You have given. Through Your laws, You guide us and show us the way to You. How precious are they to us! It shows us Your immense wisdom and grace. Thank You, Lord. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE \u00a0Please read Psalm 119:121\u2013128 Therefore, I love Your commandments Above gold, yes, above pure gold. Psalm 119:127 DEVOTIONAL by Sandra Chua Who likes rules? I am following an exercise video, and the instructor said, “There are no rules!” Who likes to be constrained by rules? We like to be free to do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotionals","category-text-devo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4204"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4207,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204\/revisions\/4207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jec.com.ph\/jub\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}