Lean on the Lord, and Love Extravagantly!

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Friday, February 27, 2009
Devotions: Ps 140-43; Ruth 3:1-18; 2 Cor 1:23-2:17; Mt 5:38-48

Lord, please deliver me from violent people with evil intentions, those who plan to harm me to their own benefit. I affirm that YHWH is my God, Who answers prayer and protects His own. Let the mischief the wicked plan against others fall upon themselves. I know God maintains the cause of the afflicted and executes justice for the needy. Lord, let my prayers come before You as incense; set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, and keep watch over my thoughts. Keep me focused on the good path; let me shun evil. My focus is on God, my Lord; You are my Refuge, and I need Your protection. Let the wicked fall into their own snares, while I escape. I cry to God and pour out my problems: I’m faint in health, facing a lot of pain, a lot of bills; I’m not making much money; I’m worried for my household, Lord. I know I’m walking through a minefield; You alone are my Helper, Father: heed my cry, for I am down, very low. Hear my prayer, Lord—keep the lines open, and let me know You’re hearing and responding, I pray. My spirit and heart are in mild shock. But as I remember days past, Your kindness to me over decades, I stretch out my desire to you, and thirst for you like drought-stricken lands long for rain. Let me know of Your steadfast love this very morning, Father! Teach me the way I should go, for I lift my soul to You. Deliver me from all enemies, and teach me to do Your will. Let Your Spirit guide me on a level path, for Your name’s sake. I am Your servant!

After Ruth and Naomi had lived together for a time, Naomi undertook to provide for Ruth’s future. She counseled her daughter-in-law to offer herself to Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. Boaz responded favorably, and promised to take her under his care, unless the one nearer kinsman would do so. Hearing Ruth’s account of her experience, Naomi was convinced that Boaz would settle matters quickly and favorably.

Paul tells the Corinthian church that his goal is to collaborate with them, to strengthen their faith and increase their joy. He advises that they now show charity to the church member they had censured at Paul’s direction, lest the man be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow—discipline is love, not harshness, and the love should remain after the sting of discipline has run its course. All this is according to God’s plan, and counters Satan’s ploys against God’s people. We must keep working together to spread everywhere the gospel, the aroma of the knowledge of Christ. We are commissioned by God, and under His oversight, we speak and act in Christ, by His Spirit.

Jesus continues His sermon on the mount: ‘You’ve heard the lex talionis—“eye for eye, tooth for tooth!” But I say to you, don’t resist evil; turn the other cheek; go the second mile; give more than you’re required; don’t refuse to lend to those who ask. You’ve heard we should love our neighbors and hate our enemies. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you—in this way, you act as children of your heavenly Father: for He sends sunrise to evil as to good; He lets rain fall for the just and unjust alike. There is no reward in loving or acknowledging only those who love you and are part of your circle of friends and relatives—that is natural, not spiritual. You goal is higher: complete maturity, perfection, like that of your heavenly Father.’