Strength for the struggle

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, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Saturday, July 4, 2009
Devotions: Ps 104; 137:1-6; 144; 1 Sam 14:16-30; Acts 9:10-19a; Lk 23:32-43

Bless the Lord, my soul! YHWH, my God, how great You are! You have laid out the heavens and made the earth—a perfect setting and environment for our lives. What a beautiful, wonder-full world! I will sing Your praises with every breath You give. Even when I am in mourning, You are wonderful. Help me sing God’s songs wherever I find myself, and leave judgment and vengeance to You. God trains me for work and for war; Lord, come down to us, and show us Your power and holy love. May our sons and daughters flourish under Your care; may our crops and flocks multiply. Happy are the people whose God is YHWH.

Saul and his battle staff observed the tumult in the Philistine camp, and questioned who among the Israelites might be causing such an uproar. Only Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing. Saul summoned a priest with God’s ark. And Saul released his forces to attack; and that day, YHWH delivered Israel: the Philistines were routed and the country was saved. Yet, even as God worked for his nation, Saul acted unwisely. He laid an oath on all his forces, that none should take nourishment until evening came and Saul was thoroughly avenged against his enemies. God had provided honey in the forest where the Israelites were pursuing the Philistines—but no one took any, because of Saul’s curse. Jonathan alone, who had not heard the command, took energy from the honey. When someone commented to Jonathan about his father’s order, he answered: ‘My father has troubled the land. Look how the honey brightened my eyes! How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies; for now the slaughter among the Philistines is less than it might have been.’

In Damascus lived a disciple named Ananias. In a vision, the Lord addressed him: ‘Ananias, rise and go to Straight Street; find the house of Judas and inquire there for Saul of Tarsus. Saul is praying and I have given him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ Ananias objected: ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man. He has done great evil among Your saints in Jerusalem, and now he has come to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to bind everyone who worship You.’ But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go. He is My chosen instrument, to carry My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and sons of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.’ So Ananias obeyed; he found Saul and laid hands on him with these words, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus Who appeared to you along your road here has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes; he regained his sight, got up, and was baptized. Then he took food and was strengthened.

With Jesus, two brigands were also sent to be crucified. When they arrived at Golgotha, they crucified Him and the criminals, one on either side. Jesus spoke: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.’ The soldiers cast lots for His clothing. The people stood witness, and the rulers mocked Jesus, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is God’s Messiah, His Chosen One!’ The soldiers also mocked him; they offered him sour wine and said, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ Over Him on the cross was the inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ One of the criminals also railed at Jesus: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked the first criminal: ‘Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? We are getting what our deeds have earned; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus answered, ‘Truly I tell you: today, you will be with Me in Paradise.’