Live in the Spirit

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Devotions: Ps 103, 111, 114; Isa 30:18-21; Acts 2:36-47; Jn 14:15-31

Let all that is within me bless YHWH! May I never forget all His benefits, Who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. God redeems my life; He crowns me with steadfast love and mercy. He renews my life and strength, and gives meaning and purpose to my life. He has vindicated and blessed His people for millennia; He continues to reveal Himself, through Moses and the Torah, through the people and nation of Israel. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. His love is immense; He sets us apart, utterly, from our sins and their dire consequences. He knows mortals, and how we are made. Let us keep His covenant and commands. Let every sentient creature praise and bless YHWH, our Lord.

I will honor God among His people. He has made us His own through Jesus, our eternal High Priest, God’s Son. It is great pleasure to meditate on God and His works! His righteousness is everlasting. He feeds the hungry; He keeps His promises. He has redeemed his people; to fear God is the beginning of wisdom; those who practice this virtue gain good understanding. God’s praise endures forever!

God is patient to show His grace to us; He exalts Himself to show us His mercy. He is altogether just, and altogether compassionate. Blessed are all who wait upon our God! He reveals Himself as Teacher to those who seek Him. Listen and heed His promptings: ‘This is the way; walk in it!’ Amen, Lord; I walk as You direct.

Peter’s Pentecost sermon continued: ‘Let everyone in Israel understand: God has made Lord and Messiah this Jesus Whom you crucified!’ This cut the listeners to the heart, and they pleaded with the apostles: ‘Brothers, what must we do?’ Peter answered: ‘Repent and be baptized, each of you, into the name of Jesus the Messiah, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord our God calls people of every nation and station. Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’ About three thousand took Peter at his word, and were baptized and added to the Christian community that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to Christian fellowship, to the breaking of bread [table fellowship and communion], and to prayer. Awe fell on every soul; the apostles did many wonders and signs among the people. The believers remained in unity, holding their possessions in common, selling their goods to support the community, and distributing to everyone according to their needs. Daily, they worshiped together at the temple, enjoyed table fellowship in their homes, with glad and generous hearts. And the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Jesus had taught, on the night prior to His crucifixion: ‘If you love Me, keep My commands, and I will pray the Father, and He will send you another Paraclete, the Holy Spirit of truth—He already dwells with you, and He will be in you! The world cannot receive the Spirit, since it neither sees nor knows Him. I won’t leave you desolate; though the world will see Me no more, in a little while, you will see Me again; and because I continue to live, you also will continue to live! The one who loves me keeps My commands, and is loved by the Father; and I too love him and will manifest Myself to him.’ The disciple Judas (not Iscariot) asked, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, but not to the world?’ And Jesus replied, ‘One who loves me will keep My word; thus, as My Father loves him, We will come to him, and make Our home with him. Those who don’t love Me do not keep My commands—and My words are those of the Father, Who sent Me. I have told you these things while I Am still with you; but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things, and remind you of everything I have said to you [in words and in deeds, by My doing and My being.] I leave you My peace; I give it to you, not as the world gives. Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid. Rejoice that I am going to My Father, for My Father is greater than I. I have told you all this before it happens, so you may believe. I do as My Father commands Me, so the world may know My love for My Father. The ruler of this world is coming, but he is powerless before God. So now: rise and let us go.’