Signs of the times...

New Guest: Most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that label.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Devotions: Ps 101, 109:1-4, 20-30; 119:121-44; Mal 1:1, 6-14; Jas 3:13-4:12; Lk 17:11-19

I will sing of loyalty and justice, Lord; I will walk with integrity of heart; I will not set before me anything base; I will not join those who fall away from You. I will not study evil. I will shun gossip and slander, and I will encourage the faithful and upright. Lord, I need Your defense and protection against those who hate me. Deliver me in Your steadfast love, YHWH. Let all enemies know that it’s better to be with God than against You. Let them experience shame, so they do not fall into perdition. And let me live in integrity; deliver me from my own corruptions. I will exert myself to find Your righteousness and follow Your ways. Teach me Your statutes and engender Your character in me. I love Your care and fear Your judgment, Lord God.
Malachi was a mystery man—a prophet of whom only the name, ‘My Messenger’ is known. He spoke for God: ‘Sons honor fathers, and servants honor their masters—so if I Am a Father, where is My honor? If I Am Master, where is the awe I merit? The priests who say they serve Me present polluted and damaged sacrifices—they give God the things no one else wants, things they’d be afraid to offer their human authorities. Do such gifts curry the Almighty’s favor? Of course not. I won’t accept such dishonor. My own people show Me less respect than unbelievers. Show more respect!’
James wrote: The wise among you show it by living wisely and humbly. If you evidence bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t compound your offense by boasting and claiming virtue. This is earthy, unspiritual, demonic! Jealousy, rivalry and selfish ambition are roots of disorder and every vile practice. Divine wisdom is pure, peaceable, and gentle; the truly wise are open to reason, merciful and fruitful; they are without uncertainty or insincerity. Righteousness results from the practice of sowing and cultivating peace!
Human wars and conflicts spring from disordered passions. You covet, and when you don’t get what you desire, you kill to get it. But you lack simply because you do not ask, or you ask and don’t receive, because you fail to seek from the right Source or for the right reasons. Friendship with the corrupt world system is enmity toward God. But God gives more grace than we have corruption; He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit yourselves to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you; draw close to God and He will remain close to you. Sinners, repent and accept cleansing; ambivalent folks, purify your hearts. Face your depravity; mourn the loss of integrity and innocence. Humble yourselves before the holy and loving God—and God will exalt you.
Jesus was bound to Jerusalem for the last time, and passed along between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered one village, ten lepers met Him; they stood at a distance and cried out: ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ He responded: ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ As they obeyed, they were cleansed of leprosy, and as the Torah directed, the priests certified their health and return to human society. Of the ten, one turned back, praising God, and fell at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. He was a Samaritan. Jesus commented: ‘Ten were cleansed; nine are missing. Only this foreigner returned to give praise to God.’ And He addressed the healed man: ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’