May 5 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These readings focus on the Holy Spirit. In the Old Covenant (or Testament), the Spirit "anoints" one person here and one there to perform a special work for God. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is "poured out" like rain on the whole church of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Psalm 51:1–12

Bible Text:

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me (Ps. 51:11).

Devotional:

After what David did, he deserved to be cast away by God: First he had an affair with Bathsheba, and then he orchestrated her husband's death.

If we compare ourselves with David, we might conclude that our shortcomings and transgressions are petty. But don't forget that what King David did was merely what every ungodly Eastern king of his time did. That's not to make light of his crimes. But kings were god-like in those days. They could have any woman they wanted. And they could remove any man who got in their way.

David, however, was a king under God, a servant of the LORD, anointed with his Spirit. He lived by a different set of rules. So God sent David a message through Nathan the prophet. And when the arrows of God's word penetrated his heart. David became as miserable as anyone who has ever wept over sins and cried for mercy.

Before the face of God, David admitted his guilt and pleaded for mercy. Wash me, he begged. Cleanse me, he asked. Blot it out, 0 my God. Create something new and better in me!

The climax of his prayer is this: "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me."

David knew this had happened to Saul, his predecessor. When God takes away his Spirit. we are dismissed and disowned. Then we die the second death. For God's Spirit is our life.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.