Setting Salvation's Story

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Monday, January 12, 2009
Devotions: Ps 1-4, 7; Is 40:2-23; Eph 1:1-14; Mk 1:1-13

Blessed are they who delight in YHWH’s law and meditate on it day and night; they shun the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the fellowship of scoffers. They are like trees planted near flowing water, yielding fruit in season; they do not wither, and prosper in all they do. The wicked, by contrast, will not survive God’s judgment; they cannot join His congregation. God keeps the righteous in their way; the wicked, by their choices, will perish. God holds in derision those who conspire and plot against His people. He has sent His Son to us, and made Him ruler over all the nations. So, if you’re wise, you’ll serve and honor the Son of God; those who oppose Him will perish; those who take refuge in Him are blessed! God, I know my security is only in You; deliverance belongs to my God; let Your blessing rest on Your people. While I await Your time of action, God, I will recall Your kindness and justice. When I’m angry, I’ll keep from sinning; I will forgive and trust in my Lord. You have given me Your peace and joy and security. I am truly blessed. Lord, cleanse me of all iniquity; I stand by Your grace, in the righteousness imputed from my Lord Jesus. Let the wicked perish; my shield is God, who saves the upright in heart. I will sing praise t YHWH the Most High.

God says: ‘Tell Jerusalem her warfare is ended, her iniquity pardoned, and I AM coming to her. I will set the land in order; I will reveal My glory to all flesh. Mortals are like grass—fleeting and quick to wither and fade. But our God and His word endure forever. Let the Jews herald YHWH’s good news: ‘Behold! Your God is coming with might; He will feed His flock like a shepherd and gather the lambs; He will treat us gently. He is Sovereign over all creation; the earth is like dust on His scales. He has no equal, no analog; we’re like grasshoppers before Him, the Ruler and Master of all.

Paul wrote ‘to the saints who are faithful in the Messiah Jesus’. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places—just as He chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, God has destined us to be His sons through Jesus the Messiah, according to His purpose and will, and to the praise of His glorious grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved One. In Christ Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, in accordance with God’s rich grace with He has lavished on us. God has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, which God set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, both in heaven and on eather. In Christ, we who first hoped in Him have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory, according to God’s purpose, Who accomplishes all things He chooses to do. And in Christ you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and who have believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the Guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it—all the praise of God’s glory.

John Mark, drawing on Peter’s experience and testimony, writes ‘the beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. He cites Isaiah (and Malachi): ‘Behold, I send My messenger before You, who will prepare Your way; the voice of one crying, ‘In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, and make His paths straight.’ This was fulfilled when John the baptizer appeared in the Judean wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People went out to him from Judea, Jerusalem, and he baptized them in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. John was dressed like Elijah: in camel’s hair with a leather belt, eating locusts and wild honey. And he proclaimed: ‘After me comes One whose sandal’s I’m not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ Jesus of Nazareth came from Galilee and John baptized Him in the Jordan. When Jesus came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens open, and the Spirit descended on Him like a dove; and a Voice from heaven spoke: ‘You are My beloved Son; with You I Am well pleased!’ Immediately, the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness; He was there forty days, tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals; and angels ministered to Him.