Faith Acts Wisely

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might read 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, in the archives.

Friday, May 15, 2009
Devotions: Ps 106; WisSol 16:15-17:1; Rom 14:13-23; Lk 8:40-56

Praise YHWH, for His steadfast love endures forever! Lord, include me when You show favor to Your people, that I may rejoice with them and glory in Your heritage! I am a sinner, from a race of sinners, Lord. Throughout history, You have recurrently provided grace, and we humans have recurrently fallen short of faith and obedience to You, disregarding Your great mercy, love and faithfulness. We tend to idolatry, greed and sin, Lord. How we have offended against Your holy love! How we have fallen short of Your wisdom, angering You and harming ourselves. Yet, You have kept Your covenant. Save me today, God! Blessed be YHWH, God of Israel, God of Jesus, for ever!

It is impossible to escape from God and His justice; the very universe enters His judgment. He favors the righteous and punishes the wicked. God feeds His people with the food of angels. He sustains us, so that eventually, we may gain wisdom to recognize that God, not nature, is our Provider. Devotion begins early and continues late; we must re-establish our links with You, O Lord, before the sun’s heat increases, and we must settle into Your grace before we sleep and the chill of night sets in. Your ways require deep understanding, and uninstructed souls wander astray!

Paul wrote: ‘Let us resolve never to put stumbling blocks before our brothers and sisters. While mature faith and doctrine reveal that nothing God has made is unclean in itself, still it is unclean for anyone who thinks it so. When we exercise our liberty to the hurt of others, who see our conduct as sin, we are no longer acting in love. Don’t do such harm to the faith of others! God’s kingdom is not about food and drink, but rather righteousness, love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Let us pursue what results in peace and edification; do nothing that makes your fellow Christians stumble. Happy is the one who lives in the liberty of Christ; but whatever does not proceed from faith, that is sin.’

Returning from Gerasa to the Galilee, Jesus was met by a throng waiting for Him. Among them was Jairus, a synagogue ruler, who fell at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come to his house to save his only daughter, aged 12, who was dying. As Jesus went with Jairus, the crowd pressed around Him, and among them was a woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years; no one had healed her, and she had exhausted her resources in seeking treatment. She approached Jesus from behind and touched the fringe of His garment; immediately, her hemorrhaging ceased, and Jesus also reacted: ‘Who touched Me?’ Peter responded, ‘Master, You’re surrounded by a jostling crowd; many have touched You!’ Jesus was speaking of something else: ‘Someone touched Me in a way that drew power out from Me!’ Seeing this, the woman came forward, fell down before Jesus, and declared why she had touched Him, and that she had been immediately healed. Jesus responded, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ At that moment, a messenger arrived from Jairus’ home, and said to him, ‘Your daughter has died; there’s no reason to trouble the Master any further.’ But Jesus answered, ‘Don’t be afraid! Only believe, and she will be well.’ They continued to Jairus’ house, and Jesus allowed only the parents and Peter, James and John to enter with Him. He told the collected mourners not to weep, because the girl was sleeping, not dead. The mourners scorned Him with laughter; they knew the girl had died. But Jesus went to the girl, took her hand, and called to her: ‘Child, arise!’ Her spirit returned; she got up at once; and Jesus told the household to give her something to eat. Her parents were amazed, but Jesus charged them to tell no one what had happened.