Follow His lead

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

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Devotions: Ps 94, 97, 99; Ezek 11:14-25; Heb 6:13-20; Lk 10:1-17

YHWH, God of vengeance, shine forth! Put an end to the exultation of the wicked, who scorn and demean You and exploit Your people. Blessed are they whom God chastens and teaches; He does not forsake His people, and brings justice to the upright in heart. If YHWH had not helped me, I would long ago have died. God, Your steadfast love has sustained me; you console me, my Stronghold and Rock of refuge! Our Lord will wipe out the wicked and preserve His own people. God reigns, and earth rejoices. Those who worship idols are doomed; YHWH is Lord of all! Let us give thanks to His holy name. YHWH reigns: let the nations tremble! God is great in Zion, exalted over all peoples. Mighty King, You love justice and establish equity. We worship at Your footstool. Let us praise YHWH our God and worship Him; our God is holy!

God had Ezekiel proclaim, ‘Though I have exiled sinful Israel, yet I Am a Sanctuary for them among the nations in their Diaspora. I will gather you from the countries where you are scattered and give you the land of Israel. I will give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove their stony hearts and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may walk in My ways, obeying My statutes; they will be My people, and I will be their God!’ God's glory rose, and His Spirit lifted Ezekiel up and put him amid the exiles in Chaldea, where he proclaimed God’s message.

God made His promise to Abraham in His own Name, to bless and multiply Abraham. We have His promise, and can be strongly encouraged to hope and believe! Our hope is anchored by Jesus, Who has entered God’s very Presence as our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus appointed seventy disciples, sending them out in pairs to every town and place He would be visiting Himself. He counseled them: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the harvesters are few; so pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest. Now: go your way as lambs among wolves; take nothing with you: no purse, no bag, no sandals. And salute no one along the road. When you get to your destination, accept the hospitality offered; when you enter a house, say “Peace be to this house!” If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, your peace will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking what they provide; for the laborer deserves his wages; don’t move from house to house. When you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick, and tell them “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But if you are not received, go into the streets and proclaim “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you. And know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. It will be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you! Capernaum: you will be brought down to Hades!’ Again He addressed His missioners: ‘Whoever listens to you, hears Me; and whoever rejects you also rejects Me and thereby rejects Him Who sent Me.’ After their mission, the seventy returned with joy, reporting: ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!’