Godly and worldly divided

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.

Saturday, May 2, 2009
Devotions: Ps 30, 32, 42, 43; Dan 6:16-28; 3 Jn; Lk 5:27-39

I praise You, Lord, because You have not let my foes rejoice over me. You have helped and healed me! God’s anger is brief, but His mercy is everlasting. Let YHWH be my Helper: You have turned my mourning into dancing and dressed me in merriment. My God, I thank You forever! Blessed are all to whom God imputes righteousness, not iniquity. I confess my sins to You, Lord, and You pardon and shelter me. The wicked suffer many pangs, but God’s steadfast love surrounds everyone who trusts in YHWH. I shout His praise! My soul longs for God like a thirsty stag in a desert place. I miss You, Father! People look at me and mutter, ‘Where is his God now?’ But I will sustain my faith and trust in You; I will triumph, and praise God in the presence of His people and also before the skeptics. God’s Spirit stirs my depths, and I cling to Him. Vindicate me, my God; I take refuge in You. Send Your light and truth and draw me to Your holy place, my Helper and Master!

Darius could not excuse Daniel from the penalty he had decreed, so he said, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!’ And Daniel was put into the lions’ den, and the mouth of the den was sealed with the king’s signet and those of his lords. The king spent a restless night fasting, and hurried to the den at daybreak. Daniel was fine: ‘My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths; they have not hurt me, because I am blameless before God and you, my king.’ Darius was very glad; he had Daniel released, and his accusers, with their wives and children, were thrown into the den, and the lions destroyed them. Darius issued a decree to his empire: ‘All will show reverence before the God of Daniel, the living God, enduring for ever; He delivers and rescues; He works signs and wonders in heaven and earth. He has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’ And Daniel prospered through the reigns of Darius and Cyrus the Persian.

John the Elder wrote to Gaius: ‘Our brothers have gladdened me with news of how your life conforms to God’s truth. I have no greater joy than when I hear that my children are following the truth. You honor God when you serve the Christian fellowship, particularly strangers. Help God’s workers do their kingdom work! We ought to support such men, that we collaborate in serving God and His truth. At the other extreme is Diotrephes, who puts himself forward, ignoring my authority, and even blocking others from offering hospitality to itinerant Christian workers; he even puts them out of the church! My loved ones, don’t imitate such evil; imitate good! Demetrius is an exemplar of a truth-server, and I testify to his integrity. I’ll keep the rest of my news till I see you; live in peace; all the friends send their greetings. You greet the friends there, every one of them!’

As He went His way, Jesus passed a tax collector name Levi, and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ And Levi immediately left everything, got up, and followed Jesus. Levi made a great feast for Jesus, and a large company attended, including many tax collectors and others who reclined at table with Jesus. The Pharisees and their scribes murmured against Jesus’ disciples: ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered, ‘The sick need a doctor; those who are well do not. I have come to call sinners to repentance, not to call the righteous.’ Then the critics switched subjects: ‘The disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast often, and pray regularly, but your disciples eat and drink!’ Jesus answered, ‘You can’t make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them. But days will come with their Bridegroom is taken from them; they’ll fast then.’ And He told them a parable: ‘Nobody tears fabric from a new garment to patch an old one—both the new and the old would be spoiled. And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if they did, the wine would burst the old skins, and both wine and wineskins would be lost. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Moreover, people who are accustomed to the old wine dislike the new; they maintain that “the old is good!”’