Blind and Shortsighted - scriptural paradox

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

Monday, December 15, 2008
Devotions: Ps 41, 44, 52; Isa 8:16-9:1; 2 Pet 2:1-11; Lk 22:39-53

Happy are those who consider the poor; they emulate God, Who in turn protects them and sustains them in the face of trouble and sickness. I ask God to heal me, for I sin against Him; human compassion is a sometime thing, but God is always gracious and good. My enemy has not triumphed, because God has upheld me [due to the integrity of my Master Jesus]. May God be blessed forever! Our forefathers have left us the good news that God has provided our victories and our security. When we are in decline, it has resulted from our rebellion and disobedience to Him. God, remain alert and come to our aid now! I am bowed low; deliver me for the sake of Your steadfast love, I pray. Why boast of your evil, man of power? God will break you down and uproot you. There is no refuge in worldly power or wealth. In my aging, I remain like a green olive tree in God’s bower; I will trust YHWH’s steadfast love forever and proclaim His holy name in the presence of the godly.

Isaiah writes: ‘Bind up my testimony; my children and I will wait upon God. We have become portents to the disobedient house of Jacob. They seek guidance from spirits and seers—why not from God? Turn to the teaching and the testimony! Until the people seek God and go God’s way, no good can come to them. Cursing their leaders or their God cannot save them.’ But there will be no gloom for those He glorifies by sending them His Son.


Simon Peter wrote to his fellow Christians ‘who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus the Messiah: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence. By these He has granted us his very great and precious promises, in order than through these you may escape the corruption that is in the world because of lustful passions, and may become partakers of the Divine nature. Because of all this, make every effort to add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, steadfastness; and to steadfastness, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, godly love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. And whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted [!] and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. So, brothers: be ever more zealous to confirm your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never fall, and God will provide for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’

After Passover in the upper room, Jesus came out and, as His custom was, went to the Mount of Olives. When they came to the place, Jesus told His disciples, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And He withdrew alone, knelt and prayed: ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will by Your will be done.’ When He had prayed, He came back and found the disciples sleeping for sorrow. He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise, and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’
While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ twelve chosen apostles. Judas came up to Jesus to kiss Him, but Jesus said: ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?’ When those around Him saw what was happening, they said, ‘Lord, shall we strike with the sword?’ And one struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus turned to the chief priests, temple officers and elders who had come against Him: ‘Have you come out as against a brigand, with swords and clubs? When I was among you each day in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.’