Fruitful LIving

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

Monday, December 1, 2008
Devotions: Ps 1-4, 7; Isa 1:10-20; 1 Thess 1:1-10; Lk 20:1-8

Happiness comes to the people who avoid wicked counsel, sinful practices and scoffing criticisms; instead, they delight in God’s law and meditate on that day and night. This makes them like trees planted near flowing water—fruitful in season, lively year-round. In all they do, these prosper! The wicked are like windblown chaff; they will not withstand judgment; they will not be accepted among the righteous. God keeps the way of the righteous; the wicked perish as a consequence of their choices. The wicked conspire against God, but in vain. God holds them in derision; He is Master and sets His Son at the head of all nations. Worship Him, for your own good! God, my enemies are many and fearsome; but You are my Shield; You answer my call and meet my needs. I will not be afraid; my deliverance and vindication are in Your hands; may Your blessing rest on Your people. In my anger, I will not sin; I will put my trust in God, and will draw upon the joy He has put in my heart. I will live in peace and safety, by God’s grace.

God doesn’t need our sacrifices or tithes; He wants us—our love, trust, attention and cooperation. Empty religion enrages God. So let us cleanse our souls, circumcise our hearts, and turn from evil; let us purify ourselves, learn to do what is good, seek justice, correct oppression, defend the orphan and the widow. If I am willing and obedient, I will share in God’s bounty; if I sin and rebel, I will be destroyed. All this, God has spoken.

Paul, Silas and Timothy wrote to the church of Thessalonika: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for you, holding up before God our Father your works of faith, love, and hope in our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. We know God has chosen you—in power, in His Spirit, in full conviction. We modeled right conduct among you, and you have followed our example—in affliction, you have joy inspired by the Holy Spirit. You in turn are a model for the other Macedonian and Achaian churches. You made a thorough conversion, and you wait faithfully for God’s Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead: Jesus, Who delivers us all from the wrath to come.

As Jesus taught in the Jerusalem temple, He was accosted by chief priests, scribes and elders, who asked: ‘By what authority do you do these things?’ Jesus replied with a question: ‘Was John’s baptism from God or from men?’ Conferring, the authorities realized any answer would create problems for them, so they said they didn’t know the source of John’s actions. Jesus also declined to answer their question. [If they couldn’t interpret the evidence, no language could affect their understanding.]