Welcome God when He comes

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Saturday, November 29, 2008
Devotions: Ps 104, 137:1-6; 144; Zech 14:12-21; Phil 2:1-11; Lk 19:41-48

Let my soul bless God! Father, You are very great: Creator and Sustainer of all that is, Architect and Keeper of all life; Master of Nature and Humankind. YHWH, how manifold and wonderful are Your deeds, and how awesome and amazing You are! I will sing to the Lord all my days; may Your glory endure forever, as I join in praise to God our King. I will not let the sorrows of earthly life still my tongue; I will recall the goodness of God while I cope with life in this damaged world. I set God as my highest goal and greatest joy; I will trust and honor God today. You, Lord, are my Rock; You train me for the war and peace of this life. We mortals pass like shadows, like candles in the wind. But God, come down to us, I pray. Show forth Your majesty on earth; scatter all enemies! I will sing a new song to You; let our sons and daughters flourish before You; fill our storehouses and bless our fields. Happy are the people who worship YHWH!

Zechariah prophesied a great wasting plague on those who war against Jerusalem, and panic that creates civil war among them—even plague against their domestic animals. Those who survive this purging will worship the King, YHWH Sabaoth, and observe His festivals. All that lives will be set aside, ‘Holy to the Lord’—and God’s house will be pure, cleansed of all ungodly commerce.

Let all who love God be united in mind and heart. Let us be filled with God’s Spirit, and be in peace and unity. I will do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit; rather, in humility account others as having priority; I will look not only to my own interests, but also to those of others. I will take on the mind of the Messiah Jesus, Who surrendered His status and privileges in the Godhead, and emptied Himself, taking on human form, born as a helpless baby in Bethlehem, growing up in Nazareth, then further humbled Himself to death on a cross. For these acts of obedience and humility, God has exalted Him and bestowed on Jesus great glory, so that at His name every knee will bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the Father’s eternal glory. Let us today work out our salvation with fear and trembling, as God works in us to will and do all for His good pleasure.

When Jesus had approached and could see Jerusalem, He wept over it: ‘How I wish that you knew what makes for peace! But they are hidden from you. Days will come when your enemies will throw up earthworks and breach your walls, and slaughter your people and leave no stone on another, all because you failed to recognize the time of your divine visitation!’ He went directly to the temple and began to drive out those who sold there: ‘Scripture says God’s house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of lestai—brigands!’ He taught in the temple each day, while the chief priest, scribes and community leaders plotted to destroy Him—but were constrained as all the people hung upon His words.