God's fruitful authority

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

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Devotions: Ps 23, 27, 75, 76; Sir 46:1-10; 2 Cor 13; Lk 20:1-8

YHWH is my Shepherd; I lack no good thing; He gives me rest, refreshment, and restoration. He guides me to righteousness for His name’s sake. Even when I walk through the darkest shadow, I fear no evil, for You, God, are with me; Your rod and staff bring me confidence and comfort. You provide for me in the very presence of my enemies; You anoint me with Your Spirit and the oil of holy joy; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will pursue me all my days, and I will dwell in YHWH’s house forever! YHWH is my Light, my Salvation, the Stronghold of my life, and I fear nothing and no one else. My enemies stumble and fall; I will be confident. My only desire is to live in God’s house forever, beholding His beauty. I offer shouts of gratitude and praise in His tabernacle; I sing songs of praise to my God. I seek Your face, O Lord; keep me near You. Teach me Your ways, O Lord, and lead my in the level path. Preserve me from adversaries. I believe that I will see God’s goodness while I live; I wait for YHWH in the strength of His love and faithfulness. God is Judge, and the Sovereign Who chooses the time for His holy acts. I will rejoice as I wait upon God’s sovereign acts, praising the God of my salvation.

Joshua son of Nun was mighty in war, and Moses’ successor as prophet in Israel, a great savior of God’s elect, as his name signifies. He waged the wars of YHWH, and none could withstand him. He destroyed those who resisted; he wholly obeyed the Mighty One. Among the twelve spies Moses dispatched to scout Canaan, Joshua and Caleb alone affirmed that God would give Israel the land He had promised. Among the 600,000 Israelites who began the Exodus from Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan—even Moses died along the way! Caleb claimed his inheritance with youthful vigor, so that all the sons of Israel might see that it is good to follow the Lord!

Paul concludes his second Corinthian letter: ‘My next will be my third visit—and God’s testimony is established by two or three witnesses. Let me not find sinning among you. Christ’s resurrection power rests on me. Test yourselves, that I need not examine and punish when I arrive. We are all powerless against God and His truth; I pray for your improvement, not your downfall. I want to use God’s power for edifying, not punishing! Mend your ways; heed my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace—and the God of peace will be with you. Care for one another with holy affection. And may the grace of the Lord Jesus our Messiah, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.’

As Jesus taught in the temple, the Jewish authorities came and demanded to know by what authority, from whom, Jesus acted and taught. Jesus answered their question with a question of His own: ‘Was John’s baptism from heaven or from men?’ The Jewish leaders conferred, and realized that either response would create problems for them, so they said they didn’t know the source of John’s authority to baptize. Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’