Believe, Forgive, Persist

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.

Monday, August 17, 2009
Devotions: Ps 106; 2 Sam 17:24-18:8; Acts 22:30-23:11; Mk 11:12-26

I will praise the living God today, Whose steadfast love endures forever. Lord, remember me, I pray, when You show favor to Your people. Let me rejoice with all the saints. I am a sinner, offspring of mortal sinners. Throughout human history, You have sought to do us good, and we have rebelled and turned from You. Forgive, Lord! Our struggles result from our sins, and sin from idolatry. Blessed be Your name, YHWH, forever.

When David came to Mahanaim, Absalom and his army, now commanded by Amasa rather than Joab, encamped in Gilead, an Ammonite named Shobi brought food and provisions for David’s party. David organized his forces in three groups, under Joab, Abishai and Ittai the Gittite. These commanders prevailed on David not to accompany his army to the field, since only David would be the objective of their enemies. As his forces marched out, David ordered the commanders, ‘For my sake, deal gently with the young man Absalom.’ All the people overheard this order. Battle was joined in the forest of Ephraim, and David’s forces defeated those of Absalom and Israel. More were lost to the forest than to the battle!

Paul was brought unbound before the Roman tribune in Jerusalem, with the chief priests and Jewish council, his accusers. The high priest ordered those near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Paul confronted the man, pointing out that the blow was illegal; others challenged Paul for his intemperate address to the high priest, and Paul apologized out of respect for the office, ‘For it is written, “You shall not speak evil of the a ruler of your people.”’ So Paul’s defense focused on his status as a Pharisee, and this engendered raucus debate between the Pharisees and Sadducees among the council members. Some of the Pharisees then defended Paul, and the tribune ended the dissension by dispersing the crowd and taking Paul back into protective custody. The next night, Jesus came to Paul and told him: ‘Take courage, for as you have testified about Me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome.’

As Jesus walked from Bethany into Jerusalem, He was hungry. From a distance, He saw a fig tree; but when He approached, He found no fruit on it—figs were not in season. He spoke to the tree: ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ His disciples heard all this. When they came to Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those doing commerce in the temple grounds; He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those selling pigeons; and He would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He addressed those around Him: ‘Isn’t it written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”? But you have made it a den of brigands!’ The chief priests and scribes heard this, and sought means to destroy Jesus, fearing His influence on the crowds. Evening came, and Jesus and His followers left Jerusalem. The next morning, they passed the fig tree—now withered away to its roots. Peter remarked on this, and Jesus answered, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you most truly that whoever tells this mountain to be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, believing what he says will occur, for him it will be done! So listen: I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. As you pray, forgive, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you of your trespasses.’