The Message of God divides human communities

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Devotions: Ps 12-14; 119:1-24; Isa 2:1-11; 1 Thess 2:13-20; Lk 20:19-26

Lord, help us: the faithful have vanished; everybody deceives their neighbors, speaking flattery or lies; they are ‘double-hearted.’ May YHWH cut off lying lips! Let God arise and care for the poor. God’s promises are pure, and He protects us as vileness is exalted among mortals. Father, lighten my burden; I will trust in Your steadfast love and rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to God, because He has dealt bountifully with me. The fool believes there is no God; and God observes, seeking any who act wisely. He stands with the righteous and protects the poor. Let us rejoice in God’s protection.

Blessed are all who study God’s word and walk in its ways. May my own conduct keep Your statutes; then I’ll not be ashamed. How can one keep his way pure? By acting according to Your word. I seek You with my whole heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart, so that I will not sin against You. Lord, deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and observe Your word. Your testimonies delight me; they are my counselors!

Isaiah, son of Amoz, prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem: ‘In days to come, Mount Moriah will be established as the greatest high place, and many peoples will agree: “Let us go up to YHWH’s mountain, to His house in Jerusalem, and learn His ways.” God will be Judge, and the peoples will make peace, beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks; the nations will study war no more! Let the people of Israel walk in God’s light; let those who follow diviners and soothsayers face divine judgment. YHWH will punish idolatry, and humble idol-worshipers; He is against all that is proud and self-exalted.'

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church: ‘When you heard the gospel, you received it appropriately—as God’s word, not the message of men. This Message divides people—they either accept and obey or reject and violently oppose. The latter face God’s wrath. People like you, who take in and obey the truth of God are our glory and joy!’

The Jerusalem authorities kept watch on Jesus, realizing that Jesus was using His parables to express judgment of their own praxis. They sent spies to ask incriminating questions, hoping to gather evidence to rid themselves of Jesus. One asked Him: ‘Tell us: is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?’ Perceiving their craftiness, Jesus replied: ‘Show me a coin.’ When a Roman denarius was produced, He held it up: ‘Whose likeness and inscription are these?’ They answered: ‘Caesar’s.’ Jesus said, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are His.’ This silenced His enemies for a time.