Psalm 14:2-3 - The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
We may be comforted by the thought that God is keeping an eye on us, but some people are not happy about being watched. They may think that God just wants to catch them in some transgression. In our psalm verses, the Lord is looking down on the people who live on earth, watching to see if anyone is seeking Him or following His ways. Many people may seek a god, but the god or gods they choose are those of their own creation, designed according to their desires. People bow down to the gods of world religions or worship created things, such as wealth or political leaders, exchanging "the truth about God for a lie" (Romans 1:25b). All of us are tempted to make ourselves into gods as we listen to our sinful desires instead of following God's will.
God is not watching with vengeance and wrath, seeking to condemn those who disobey Him. He is watching with love and mercy: "As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ezekiel 33:11b). God seeks repentant hearts, but the results of the divine survey are disappointing. When God looks down from heaven, He does not find even one person who is without sin. All people are corrupt. "There is none who does good, not even one."
God in His grace did not only look down on "the children of man." In the Person of His Son, He came down from heaven to earth. We have sought other gods. We "have all turned aside" and like wandering sheep we follow our own desires instead of walking in God's ways. Jesus, the Son of God, came down from heaven to earth. We were not seeking Him. He came to find us. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to seek and to save the lost. He laid down His life to save His sheep, to redeem the sinful, wandering "children of man."
God looked down from heaven to see our corrupt and wandering ways, and in mercy He sought and found us. We are no longer lost and wandering. The Shepherd brought us into His fold. Our sins are washed away in Jesus' blood, and the guilty stain of sin is removed forever from the sight of God. New survey results are in. When God looks down from heaven He sees hearts moved to repentance by the Holy Spirit. He sees us, not as the sinful children of man, but as His redeemed children, clothed in the righteousness of His Son. And He still watches over us.
WE PRAY: Good Shepherd, keep me in Your care. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Are you comforted or uncomfortable knowing that God is watching over us?
2. How interested does it show God the Father to be that He sent His Son to earth to be with us and love us?
3. How can we let others know that God loves and cares for us?
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 73, 85 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
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