Life in the Spirit of God

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Devotions: Ps 26, 28, 36, 39; Isa 44:9-20; Eph 4:17-32; Mk 3:19b-35

Lord, vindicate me, I pray. I walk in the integrity of Jesus; He keeps Your steadfast love before me; I do not sit with false men or consort with dissemblers. I despise my own sins, and beg Your cleansing and healing from all sin and folly. You are my Strength and my Shield; my heart exults in God my Savior. YHWH is the Strength of His people, the Refuge of His anointed ones, our Shepherd forever. The wicked are lured away by deception and sin; they cannot avoid, but will not acknowledge, the immense love and righteousness of God. God is our Life. My mortal existence is a flicker, a breath in eternity. But my hope is in the eternal God; I bow to Him, and beg for His preservation, lest I depart forever.

Consider the folly of mortals making, then worshiping, gods by their own craft! They are completely deceived, servants of a lie. Let all creation celebrate our Maker; YHWH is our Redeemer. He makes fools of idolaters; He sustains the words of His prophets and messengers. God’s will is done; all other ground is sinking sand!

Paul writes: ‘No longer live in futility like the pagans, alienated from God and hard of heart. Put off your old nature; be renewed in the spirit of your minds; put on the new nature created after God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness. Speak the truth; avoid sinning in anger; give the evil one no place to stand. Let each work; let all help the needy; speak only what builds up and is gracious. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit; put away all anger, bitterness and wrath, all clamor and slander. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving others, as God in Christ has forgiven you!’

Jesus was mobbed by those seeking His help. The Jewish authorities, and even Jesus’ own human family, thought He was mentally unbalanced. The scribes accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebul, the so-called prince of demons. Jesus refuted them: ‘Satan can’t cast out himself! A house divided must fall. No one can plunder a strong man’s house until he has bound up the strong man. [And that is what I Am doing—I have overcome the evil one by God’s Spirit.] All sins will be forgiven except this one: attributing to evil what is worked by the Holy Spirit; that blasphemy is unforgiveable.’ When Jesus’ mother and brothers tried to interrupt His ministry, He responded: ‘Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.’