Send to Kindleby Robin McKinley
Have you ever felt like everything was going against you? Then when you offered prays to heaven, you wondered if the Lord even heard you. David, the writer of this Psalm 6 had moments like that as well. He was persistent though in petitioning the Lord. He was well aware of what happens when God’s unfailing love meets our weakness.
Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. Psalm 6:4
I don’t know about you but I have done things that have been displeasing to the Lord. In those times I’ve wanted to get away from everyone, especially God. I felt like the word “guilty” was written across my face. That’s the way David began this Psalm.
O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage. Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Psalm 6:1
Here is something you need to hear loud and clear. Unlike humans, God doesn’t and never will discipline us when He is angry or in a rage. His discipline always comes by way of His compassion.
That doesn’t mean God doesn’t discipline, because He does. He wants us to grow and become mature children of God. The writer of Hebrews made that clear to us.
And have you forgotten his encouraging words spoken to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t underestimate the value of the discipline and training of the Lord God, or get depressed when he has to correct you. For the Lord’s training of your life is the evidence of his faithful love. And when he draws you to himself, it proves you are his delightful child. Hebrews 12:5-6
The Difference Between Discipline and Punishment
Discipline and punishment are entirely two different things. We’ve already talked about discipline. But what about punishment? The Lord will administer punishment but not during this life.
It seems like many ungodly people do very well for themselves while they are on the earth. David even complained about how well the wicked can live. How they prosper and want for nothing.
For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. Psalm 73:3-5
What it comes down to is this. People may have everything going their way during their lives. But, if a person rejects Jesus while living on the earth, punishment will be the result.
If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
Sometimes worldly and wicked people think that Christians are just plain weak. I for one am thankful because of God’s unfailing love which meets me in my weakness.
Lord, we repeat what David prayed in our verse for today. Return, O Lord, and rescue us. Save us because of your unfailing love.
About the Author:
Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.
Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”. He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.
These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.
Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.
