Active Faith Receives God's Salvation

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

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Devotions: Ps 94, 97, 99, 100; Jer 17:19-27; Rom 7:13-25; Jn 6:16-27

Shine forth, holy God! Let Your judgment fall on those who ignore or scorn You. Let fools understand: God made eyes and ears; He sees and hears everything; God knows, and God judges! Blessed are those who recognize God’s discipline and thank Him for it. God will not forsake those who abide with Him—and I am among those. Many times, I have thought I was finished, but God has sustained me! YHWH is my Stronghold, my Rock of refuge. I will stand, by His grace; the faithless will perish, by His wrath. How awesome is our God! Idol-worshipers are put to shame, but those who love God will see the dawn and be filled with joy. Let us give thanks to His holy name. God is the mighty King; Moses and Aaron and Samuel were among His servants. Let us adore our God and make a joyful noise to Him. Let us serve YHWH with gladness and come with a song before Him. Know that YHWH alone is God; He made us, and we belong to Him, as sheep of His flock. YHWH is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.

God directed Jeremiah to stand in the Benjamin Gate by which Judah’s kings entered and left the holy environs, and also to the other gates of Jerusalem. God’s message to the kings and people: ‘Keep My Sabbath holy! Bear no burdens, do no work, on this holy day of rest.' But the people continued to ignore the prophet and the Lord. The message continued: 'If you obey this command, you will have Davidic kings ruling the city, and the city will endure forever. And the residents of all neighboring lands will bring their treasures here and worship and sacrifice, thanking and praising God. And if you fail to obey My command, and continue to desecrate My Sabbath, I will burn the gates and the city with unquenchable fire!’

Paul teaches concerning God’s law: ‘The law is holy and spiritual; but I am mortal, and sin within me works to my destruction. Law enables us to recognize sin—including our own transgressions; when the commandments came, sin was strengthened, and we were as good as dead in our sins. The Law and Commandments are holy, but unattainable for mortal sinners. Sin is wicked and kills; and we are soaked in sin. I don’t know why I keep sinning when I want to do what is right! I can will the good, but I cannot do it. My flesh is ruled by sin; I cannot deliver myself. But thanks be to God, Who delivers me through Jesus the Messiah our Lord!’

After a day of teaching and feeding a multitude, Jesus went up the mountain, the disciples began to row against the wind, back across the Sea of Galilee. When they had rowed three or four miles, Jesus came to them, walking across the surface of the water. The disciples were frightened, but Jesus reassured them. And When He climbed into the boat, it immediately arrived at their destination on the western shore of the lake. The next day, many of the multitude sought Him out in Capernaum. He recognized that they sought Him because of the bread He had provided. But He cautioned them: ‘Don’t labor for food that perishes; seek food that endures to eternal life! The Son of man will provide this to you, for God my Father has sealed Me with His approval.’