God preserves His own and fulfills His plans

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Friday, April 17, 2009
Devotions: Ps 118, 136; Dan 12:1-13; Acts 4:1-12; Jn 16:1-15

Let all His people praise the Lord: His steadfast love endures forever! In my distress, I have called upon Him, and He has set me free. With YHWH on my side, I fear no one and nothing. In the name of the Lord, I cut off all my enemies, and break their curses against me. YHWH is my Strength and my Song and my Salvation. I will live and tell of His goodness and power. God has disciplined me, but never deserted me. Jesus is the Stone rejected by the nations, but made the Chief Cornerstone by His Father. Today is the day God has made for me; I will rejoice and be glad in this day! YHWH is good, and His steadfast love endures forever. YHWH is God of gods, Lord of lords, Worker of wonders, Creator of all the universe. He chose and delivered His own people, conducted them safely to the land of promise, drove out larger nations before them, and established them as His special treasure. This same God remembers me in my low estate and rescues me from every adversary. I thank You, mighty God: Your steadfast love endures forever!

Daniel’s final prophecy, voiced by the angel of the Lord, concludes: ‘At the time of the end, Michael, guardian archangel of Israel, will arise. There will be a time of unprecedented trouble, but all the children of Israel elect by God will be saved—those listed in God’s book of life. The dead will awaken, some to everlasting life, some to eternal shame and contempt. The wise will shine like heaven; those who lead others to God, like stars forever!’ Daniel inquired about the timing of these things, and God’s messenger replied: ‘It will take three and a half “times”, beginning when the power of God’s holy people has been shattered.’ Daniel asks about the outcome of these events, but the angel replied that these matters are sealed—hidden from human knowledge until the time of the end. From the time temple sacrifice is ended and is replaced by the abomination that desolates, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed, the angel says, is everyone who waits and ‘comes to the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end; then rest; and you shall stand in your allotted place at the end of days.’

As Peter and John addressed the crowd gathered by the healing of the crippled beggar, the priests and temple captain and Sadducees came upon them and arrested them—but many among the crowd converted to Christ, increasing the number of Christian men to about 5000. The next day, the high-priestly family gathered and interrogated Peter and John. Peter responded as the Holy Spirit prompted: ‘Rulers and elders, if you’re asking about the healing of the cripple, that was done by the name of Jesus the Messiah from Nazareth. You crucified Him, God raised Him from death, and by His power this man stands before you whole and well. Jesus is the Stone you builders rejected, yet He has become the head of the corner—the foundation of God’s edifice. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus taught His closest followers: ‘In days soon to come, you’ll be put out of the synagogue, and those who kill you will think they are doing God’s work, because they have known neither the Father nor Me. Remember what I have said when these things come to pass. I Am going to the Father now, and that is to your benefit, since by this means I will send the Paraclete to you. And when He comes, He will convince the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment: sin, because they don’t believe in Me; righteousness, because I Am going to the Father, and you will see me no more; and judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged! When the Spirit comes, He will guide you beyond what I have had time to tell you—into all truth; He will speak with God’s authority, and will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me; all that the Father has is Mine; and the Holy Spirit will take all this and declare it to you!’