Weekly Devotionals - 1 May 2023

Workers of today are given different benefit packages by their employers; and often, this is required by law. In Singapore, senior citizens from both the Pioneer generation and Merdeka generation are being honored with their respective benefit packages. Among other things included in the benefits are generous discounts in medical health care.
 
As children of God, we are also given a benefit package. Unlike all other packages, it covers all facets of our needs and for time and eternity. Let’s examine carefully our precious God-given benefits.
 
Psalm 103:1-2
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
 
The Psalmist was so touched by the bountiful divine benefits that he could not refrain from praising God exuberantly. Then he summarized the scope of our benefit package in six categories.
 
1st Benefit of Our Package
Forgiveness of all sins
 
Psalm 103:3a
Who forgives all your iniquities,
 
No Christian lives a perfectly sinless life. We all slip and stumble at times. But as we repent, get up and move on, we are totally forgiven and remain in fellowship with the Lord.
 
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
As we keep trusting God in all of our imperfections, we are assured of His forgiveness and our salvation is never lost. Don’t be afraid to come humbly for regular cleansing and He will always freely forgive.
 
2nd Benefit of Our Package
Healing of all diseases
 
Psalm 103:3b
Who heals all your diseases,
 
On the Cross, Christ paid the price for the redemption of all our sins and sicknesses. Not only did He shed His blood for our sin, He also sacrificed His body to be broken for our sickness.
 
Matthew 8:17
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
 
The Lord is as willing to heal as He is to save. All we need to do is to approach Him in faith; but keep in mind that healing can come instantly or progressively. There are times we need to hold on in faith to receive our healing.
 
3rd Benefit of Our Package
Redemption from destruction
 
Psalm 103:4a
Who redeems your life from destruction,
 
Satan’s plan is to destroy us completely – spirit, soul and body. He wants to rob us of everything that is good and hold us in captivity. His endgame is to destroy our souls and take us to hell with him.
 
But God sent His Written Word (the Bible) and His living Word (Jesus Christ) to destroy the works of the devil and deliver us.
 
Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
 
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
 
Not only does Jesus destroy the works of Satan on our lives, He also gives us abundant life – A life that is full of peace, joy, health and supply.
 
4th Benefit of Our Package
The Lord’s lovingkindness and tender mercies
 
Psalm 103:4b
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 
Notice the word “crowns” – He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. It denotes royalty. We are children of God because of our position in Christ; and as such, we are princes and princesses in God’s everlasting Kingdom!
 
Jacob of the Old Covenant was totally transformed the day he received a revelation of his identity in the Lord. He and his family were facing a grave danger. As he prayed in earnest, an angel came and Jacob grabbed hold of him tightly.
 
They wrestled till the break of day. Finally, the angel asked him, “What is your name?” Jacob replied, “Jacob.” His name means deceiver.
 
Then the angel revealed to him, “Your name is no longer Jacob but Israel which means prince of God. And as a prince of God, you have power with God and with man and shall prevail!”
 
Jacob was forever changed. Fear left him and he bravely proceeded to face his brother, Esau, who was coming with his men to kill him. But God changed the entire situation and the two brothers were reconciled instead.
 
The Lord crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. His love is kind and His kindness is loving; and to top it off, His mercy is tender.
 
Christ’s love is totally unmatched because He had sacrificed Himself so unreservedly for us by enduring the Cross of pain and shame.
 
5th Benefit of Our Package
Good things to satisfy us
 
Psalm 103:5a
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
 
Psalm 34:10
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
 
Jesus says, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things (good things that you need) are added unto you.” We need not suffer lack of any kind, physical or spiritual, if we faithfully follow Him.
 
Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
 
6th Benefit of Our Package
Renewal of our youth
 
Psalm 103:5b
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
 
It seems odd for the Psalmist to say that a believer’s youth could be renewed like the eagle’s. Would it not be more appropriate to say that one’s strength could be renewed like the eagle’s instead?
 
If the Psalmist had been inspired by the Holy Spirit, then there must be a reason why the word “youth” was used. I believe it is because this word is more encompassing as it not only includes strength, but also mobility, energy, vibrancy, and much more.
 
The Lord wants us to have more, not less. But the question is: how much can we believe God for? According to our faith, so be it done unto us.
 
So there you have it – our comprehensive benefit package that covers everything we need. And the qualification to obtain it is to keep trusting Christ, moment by moment, in our walk with Him.