Endurance and Salvation

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December 9, 2008
Devotions: Ps 26, 28, 36, 39; Isa 5:13-25; 1 Thess 5:12-28; Lk 21:29-38

Lord, vindicate me: I walk in the integrity of Jesus; He transforms my heart and mind, and fills me with faith. I hate the company of evildoers. By grace, I stand on level ground and bless the Lord. I lift my heart and voice to God. Blessed is God, Who hears my supplications and gives me strength. My heart trusts in God, and I exult! YHWH is the Strength of His people, the Savior of His anointed ones. God, be our Shepherd and carry us forward for ever. For the wicked, there is no God, nothing to fear, no one to judge or guide. Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens; Your faithfulness stretches to the skies; Your righteousness is like the mountains; Your judgments roll like the ocean tide. How priceless is Your steadfast love! We shelter in Your shadow; we feast on Your abundance; we drink You in; and in Your glory we perceive light! Keep me from destruction when You thrust down evildoers.

When I resolve to be still, my heart gets hot and my tongue burns. Unable to keep silence, I cry out: ‘God, help me understand my mortality! You have made me a flickering candle; my lifespan is nothing, considered against Your eternity.’ My hope is in God; Lord, deliver me from all my sins, and keep me from the scorn of fools. Chasten and discipline, but don’t destroy me, I pray. I am Your passing guest, a sojourner in this amazing world, and You are my Hope and my Future.

YHWH Sabaoth is exalted in justice and righteousness. When evil is requited and the poor are vindicated, there will be everlasting peace. Woe to those who confuse evil and good, darkness and light! The wrath of God is terrible, and His favor is everlasting joy.

Paul entreats the Thessalonians: ‘Respect those who work hard to lead you in faith. Be at peace with one another. Admonish idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Always seek to do good to one another. Always rejoice; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances—this is God’s will for you. Worship and serve in the Messiah Jesus; do not quench the Spirit; respect prophecy, but test everything, holding fast to what proves good and abstaining from every form of evil. And may the God of peace Himself wholly sanctify you, so that you remain sound and blameless in spirit, soul and body at the coming of the Lord, Jesus the Messiah. The One Who calls you is faithful, and He will accomplish all this. Keep praying for us; love all believers; and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.’

Continuing His discourse on the time of judgment and destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus told this parable: ‘Consider the fig and all the other trees: when they grow leaves, you know summer is near. Likewise, when you see the signs I have described, you may know that God’s kingdom is near! This generation [or race] will not pass away until all I described has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away; but My words will not. Take heed to yourselves; don’t let your hearts be weighed down with dissipation, intoxication, or the cares of this life—if you do, that Day will come upon you and ensnare you, because it will come equally to everyone on earth. Instead, do this: keep alert at all times; keep praying that you may have strength to escape the trials to come, and to stand before the Son of man [when I return to you].’ That last week of His mortal life, Jesus taught in the temple every day, and every night He left the city and lodged on the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning, all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.