Devotion and Separation

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that label.

Thursday & Friday, February 12 & 13, 2009
Ps 88, 146, 147; Isa 60:1-61:9; 2 Tim 2:14-3:17; Mk 10:17-45

Lord my God, I cry out for Your help day and night. I am powerless, isolated, dull with sorrow and stress. Only the living can praise You, God, so please keep me alive to praise You. Yes, I will praise YHWH; happy are they who trust in God, Maker of heaven and earth. YHWH sets prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, raises up the downcast, and loves the righteous; He watches over sojourners and upholds the widow and orphan. YHWH will reign forever. It is good to sing His praises; His understanding is beyond measure. Let us make melody to our God, Who is pleased by those who love and care for Him. He is Master of all!

God’s glory has risen upon me, and I am ready to rise and shine! His light draws people from every corner of the earth; He gathers His own to Himself. All the earth is drawn to the Holy One; let us praise His glory and seek His bounty. Though I have been bowed low, God will make me—even me!—majestic forever. Nothing is too good for God and His own; my dwelling place will be filled with salvation and praise. YHWH Himself will be my Light. His Spirit is upon me; I am anointed, as Jesus was, to bring good news to the oppressed and brokenhearted. This year, this moment, are the time appointed for God’s glory. We are priests of God; He will vindicate and recompense us, and enfold us in His everlasting covenant. The Holy Lord has blessed us forever.

God is a God of unity and order; avoid godless chatter and endless debate over minor matters. Purify yourself as a holy vessel of great value. Aim at righteousness, faith, love and peace; call on God with a pure heart. Avoid senseless, stupid controversies; don’t quarrel; be kind; teach kindly, and help others escape Satan and find God. There will be stress, but there is always salvation and refuge! Avoid godlessness, and hold fast to God and what is good. All who seek to live for God will be persecuted, but we will also triumph! All Scripture is God-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that those of God can be complete and equipped for every good work!

A rich inquirer asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus ticked off the commands regulating human relations: no murder, adultery, stealing, false witness, or fraud, and honoring one’s parents. The inquirer maintained he had kept all these since his childhood. Loving the man, Jesus continued: ‘You lack one thing: go and sell all your possessions; give the money to the poor and you’ll have heavenly treasure; then, come follow Me.’ At this, the man’s countenance fell, and he departed in sorrow, for he had great possessions. Jesus told His disciples nearby: ‘It is hard to enter God’s kingdom—harder than getting a camel through the Needle’s Eye (a gate in Jerusalem’s wall that camels had to kneel and crawl through) than for a rich man to ent4er the kingdom of God.’ They were astonished—‘who then can be saved,’ they asked. Jesus said, ‘This is impossible for humans, but not for God.’

Peter pointed out that the apostles had left all their earthly possessions to follow Him, and Jesus answered: ‘Truly, no one who has left house or kin or lands for My sake and for the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much now—houses, kindred and property—and in the age to come, eternal life! But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

Soon, James and John approached Jesus privately, and asked for the honor of sitting at His right and left when Jesus came into His glory. Jesus told them they didn’t know what they were asking: ‘Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or withstand the baptism I face?’ They said they were able. So Jesus said, ‘You will have those experiences; but to sit at My right and left is set aside by God—I can’t promise you that.’ When the other apostles heard what the Sons of Thunder had done, they were indignant. But Jesus took the occasion to tell them all: ‘You know Gentile rulers lord it over them; but that’s not the way My kingdom works. Whoever would be great must serve, and those who would be greatest must become slaves of all. Even the Son of man has come, not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’