Well-being Follows Perseverant Faith

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

Monday and Tuesday, March 9 & 10, 2009
Devotions: Ps 56, 57, 61, 62, 64, 65, 68; Jer 1:11-2:13; Rom 1:1-25; Jn 4:27-54

Lord, I trust You—all day long, people try to tread me down; but I know You keep track of my tossings; I know God is for me! My soul takes refuge in the Holy One, and He puts my enemies to shame. My heart is steadfast, by Your grace, my Lord God! I will thank You before the assembly. Let Your glory be over all the earth. God, lead me to the Rock of refuge, and let me dwell forever in Your presence. My soul waits upon God, the Source of my salvation. I will not be greatly moved. He is my Hope and my Keeper. Let anyone who will take refuge in the Holy Lord. Put no faith in world wealth; power belongs to God! Let the righteous rejoice in YHWH. Lord, praise to You Who care for all the earth! Let God’s enemies be scattered, like smoke in the wind or wax before a fire. We praise God, the Father and Protector of widows and orphans. Let the mighty quail before Him; blessed be YHWH, Who daily bears us up! God is our Salvation. Awesome and blessed is our God!

God’s word came to Jeremiah: ‘God is watching over His word, to keep His promises. And He calls foreign conquerors to chasten His faithless people. But those who speak and act on God’s behalf have nothing to fear! None can prevail against those God delivers! Israel was holy to the Lord; but the nation fell away and followed other Gods, defiling His land and pouring out abomination on His heritage. Priests and kings alike turned away, and prophets followed after the Baals. Let all creation be appalled at this idolatry and unfaithfulness! The people abandoned the Source of living water, and dug out for themselves cisterns that can hold no water!’

Paul, the herald of Christ’s gospel, to the Christians in Rome: grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Paul has prayed without ceasing for this community of faith, that he and they might encourage one another’s faith. Paul is unashamed in proclaiming the gospel, God’s power for salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike. God’s creation testifies plainly to His existence and His goodness. People have no excuse for godlessness; those who exalt themselves apart from God and His Son are serving creatures rather than the Creator. [They are, literally, damned fools.]

After their private conversation, Jesus and the Samaritan woman brought together Jesus’ traveling companions and the other Samaritan citizens of Sychar. The disciples were amazed Jesus was talking with this woman, but urged Him to take some nourishment. But Jesus told them, 'My nourishment comes from doing the work God My Father sent Me to do. Look around! The fields are ripe for harvest. I have involved you in the harvest that others have worked hard to prepare.’ The residents of Sychar listened to the woman’s testimony and to Jesus’ teaching, and many put their faith in Him; they asked Him to stay on, and He spent two more days in that village. Then Jesus departed and returned to His home region in Galilee. An official from Capernaum came to Him in Cana, begging Jesus to come to his home and heal the official’s son, who was sick to the point of death. Jesus declined to travel to Capernaum; instead, He declared, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed Jesus and went his way, and as he returned home, he was met by his servants, coming to tell the man that his son was living. They determined that the son’s recovery began at the very hour Jesus spoke, and the man and his whole household put their faith in Jesus. This was the second mighty act Jesus performed in Galilee (after changing the water to wine at the Cana wedding).