Testify for God

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.

Tuesday & Wednesday, August 4 & 5, 2009
Devotions: Ps 78, 81, 82, 119:97-120; 2 Sam 7:18-29; 9:1-13; Acts 18:12-19:1-10; Mk 8:22-9:1

Pay attention! God has established His testimony, and wants it to continue through the generations. It’s my responsibility to know and to share about God and His story with humankind. He chose the family of Abraham and the children of Israel to reveal Him to humankind. The history of the Hebrews’ response to YHWH is dreary with rebellion. Again and again they failed to keep His commands and be faithful to Him. Idolatry recurs in our history, despite God’s constant love and faithfulness. This human stubbornness and unfaithfulness hurts and angers God; but even so, He has continued to restore and redeem humanity. Our hearts are unsteady, but God is compassionate. He makes His people aware of their jeopardy, but He continues to love and keep us. He chose the line of Judah, and sent His Son Jesus to us as the final, perfect revelation of Himself and His word. So let us now sing to God and shout for joy. Let us listen and obey the One Who made us and Who continues to love and protect us. I Am is our God; He wants our love and faithfulness. If we would only heed Him, God would soon subdue our enemies and satisfy us with His best! God charges His angels to protect the weak and deliver from the wicked. God is a righteous and merciful Judge to His people. YHWH, I love Your law; I meditate on it all day long. By Your grace, I am gaining wisdom and understanding. I am moving toward a more consistent holiness, more constant righteousness. You are shaping my conscience and my character. Your word lights my way and renews my mind and heart. Your testimony is my heritage. Lord, keep me according to Your promise; may my hopes be fulfilled. I am in awe of You, and I will obey You, my God.

David sat before the Lord in an attitude of gratitude and praise: ‘O YHWH, my wonderful God: how kind You are to me and to my house! There is none like You, no other God. You have favored me and my people; You have given us a homeland and an eternal heritage. Lord, confirm Your promises. You have made a home and a homeland for Your people; Your words are true; continue to bless us, Lord, forever!’ David continued to win victories over the Philistines, over Moab, and over Zobah. His realm extended from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates. He defeated the Syrians, and made Damascus his vassal. He brought the treasures of the Gentiles to the temple of YHWH in Jerusalem. David received tribute and honor from Hamath, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Amalek, and Zobah. By God’s favor, David’s name was held in high honor in all the known world, and God gave him victory in every conflict.

During the tenure of proconsul Gallio, the Jewish leaders made a united attack against Paul, charging him before the Roman tribunal with fomenting unlawful worship. But Gallio refused to judge matters of religion among the occupied people. So the Jews had revenge by beating Sosthenes, the synagogue ruler, in the proconsul’s presence. But Gallio continued to ignore their protests. Paul remained some days, then sailed toward Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. At Cenchreae, he cut his hair in keeping with a holy vow. Arriving at Ephesus, Paul entered the synagogue to argue there with the Jews. They asked him to stay, but he demurred, saying he’d return when able, then set sail again. He landed at Caesarea, greeted the Christians there, then proceeding to Antioch. Next, Paul traveled through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. An Alexandrian Jewish believer named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was eloquent, well versed in scripture, and fervent of spirit. Apollos began to speak on behalf of the Lord; he taught accurately about Jesus, to the extent of his instruction and understanding, though he knew only of John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos, they expounded to him a more accurate and complete account of God’s way. And the Christians in Ephesus encouraged Apollos to cross to Achaia, and sent to the Christians there to aid and support Apollos in his evangelism. He powerfully confuted the Jews in public, using scripture to demonstrate that the Messiah is Jesus! While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul arrived in Ephesus and found some of the disciples whom Apollos had helped into the faith.

Jesus and His party arrived at Bethsaida, and there some people brought a blind man to Jesus to be healed. Jesus led the man outside of town [see Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13]; He spat on the man’s eyes and laid hands on him, and asked him what he could see. The man answered, ‘I see men, but they look like walking trees.’ Again Jesus laid hands on the man’s eyes; the man peered intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. Jesus sent the man on his way, telling him, ‘Don’t even enter the village!’ And Jesus went on, visiting the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He asked His companions, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist, or Elijah, or another of the ancient prophets.’ He asked, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And Jesus charged them to tell no one about Him. He began to teach His companions that the Son of man must suffer many things; He must be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, be killed, and rise again on the third day. Peter took Jesus aside and tried to talk Him out of these things, but turning to see the disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter: ‘Get behind me, Satan! In this you are on man’s side, not God’s side!’ Jesus called the multitude to Him along with His disciples, and said to them all: ‘If anyone would follow Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Whoever desires to save his life will lose it; and whoever gives up his life for My sake and the sake of the gospel will save it. It profits nothing to gain the whole world, yet forfeit one’s life. No mortal can make an exchange to gain his life. Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation will be the object of My shame when I come in My Father’s glory with the holy angels. Truly I tell you, some standing here today will not taste death until after they see that the kingdom of God has come with power!’