Endure in tough times

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December 8, 2008
Devotions: Ps 9, 15, 25; Isa 5:8-12, 18:23; 1 Thess 5:1-11; Lk 21:20-28

I will thank God wholeheartedly, recounting His love and kindness to me; God has protected and blessed me, and has saved me from destruction by my enemies. YHWH is a stronghold for the oppressed; He is worthy of my trust! He remembers the needy; the poor will not perish forever. We are blameless before the Holy One only because of the righteousness of our Lord Jesus. If we act in accordance with the law and the Spirit of God, we will never be displaced: walk blamelessly; do what is right; shun slander and evil; despise wickedness and honor right conduct; keep your promises; lend without interest and take no bribes. YHWH, I lift my soul to You; teach me Your paths and lead me in Your truth. Remember me according to Your steadfast love, and help me keep to Your pathways. Pardon my great guilt, and keep me in Your covenant. Relieve the troubles of my heart and heal my life, O Lord.

Woe to those who live by acquisition; size of an estate does not guarantee viability. And woe to those whose life is a quest for pleasure. My people are in exile for lack of knowledge; those they honor are clueless; their leaders are carried into emptiness with the people. Woe to those who confuse good and evil, light and darkness, and to those who are wise in their own eyes, heroes at drinking, and corrupt in acquitting the guilty and depriving the innocent of their rights.

God’s Day of judgment will arrive unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. But you should be aware and ready: you are children of the light. So stay alert and sober; gird yourselves with faith and love, and focus on the assurance of future salvation. God has destined us to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Who died for us so that we may live with Him, whether we remain alive or pass into biological decease. Encourage one another and build each other up!

Jesus also spoke of last things: ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by hostile armies, let those in Judea flee to the mountains, and those in the city depart. Those will be days of judgment and great distress; Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The cosmos will testify to the greatness of these events; people will be terrified at the upheavals they face. But in the end, all will see the Son of man coming with great glory and power. So keep your head up; live in hope and faith: your redemption is drawing near!’