Trust God and do His will

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 3, 2009
Devotions: Ps 77, 80; 2 Sam 7:1-17; Acts 18:1-11; Mk 8:11-21

Lord, I cry out to You; I search my spirit and ponder: has Your steadfast love ceased? Has God changed? Of course not. Your way is holy; You are trustworthy. Nature bows to Your authority, and You guide Your people as a Shepherd guides His sheep. So, my Shepherd, restore me; let Your face shine upon me. As You delivered and prospered Israel in days past, now minister to me, my God. Let Your power rest on Your Son, and restore us by Your salvation.

When David had peace from all his enemies, he called to Nathan the prophet and said, ‘See: I dwell in a house of cedar, yet God’s ark still abides in a tent.’ Nathan responded, ‘Do what is in your heart, for YHWH is with you.’ However, that night, God spoke directly to Nathan concerning this matter: ‘Go tell My servant David: Thus says YHWH: “You want to build a house for Me? I haven’t had a house in all the time since I delivered this people from Egypt and brought you here. And as for you, David, I took you from shepherding your father’s sheep, and put you as prince over all my people Israel; I have honored and protected you, and I will continue, making you a great reputation on earth. I will settle My people Israel and keep them from harm. I appointed judges to lead them, then a king to rule them. And I will make of you a dynasty. When your life is complete, I will raise up a successor from your own offspring. He will build My house, and I will establish his kingdom forever. I will be His Father, and he will be My son. I will chasten him when he sins, but I will not withdraw My steadfast love from him as I did from Saul. Your heritage will remain forever!” Nathan carried this vision to David.

When Paul had completed his work in Athens, he traveled to Corinth. There he encountered Aquila and his wife Priscilla, Jews recently arrived from Rome, where Claudius had driven out all the Jews. Paul, Aquila and Priscilla were all tentmakers, so they worked together in Corinth. Every Sabbath, Paul would debate in the synagogues, persuading by Jews and Gentiles. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul was preaching about Jesus as the Messiah; when the Jews opposed and reviled him, Paul shook out his garments, and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads. I am innocent. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!’ Paul moved to the house of a Gentile worshiper of God named Titius Justus, next door to the synagogue. Many Corinthians believed, including Crispus, the synagogue ruler and his household; and all the new believers were baptized. One night in a vision, the Lord told Paul, ‘Don’t be afraid; speak boldly, and don’t be silent. I Am with you; no one will attack or harm you here. I have many people in this city.’ Paul remained in Corinth for 18 months, teaching God’s word among them.

The Pharisees continued to contest with Jesus, repeatedly demanding signs from Him to authenticate His claims. At one point, Jesus left the place He had been in ministry, and crossed the Sea of Galilee. Those with Him forgot to bring provisions, and had only one loaf of bread in the boat. As they sailed, Jesus cautioned His companions, ‘Listen! Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.’ The disciples misinterpreted, thinking Jesus was referring to a lack of bread among them. But He confronted them: ‘Don’t you get it? Have you hard hearts? Though you have eyes and ears, are you blind and deaf? Have you no recollection? When I broke five loaves for five thousand, how many baskets of leftovers did you collect?’ (They answered, ‘twelve.’) ‘And the seven loaves among four thousand? How many baskets? ‘ (‘Seven,’ they responded.) And He said: ‘Don’t you understand yet?’