Days of Reckoning

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 in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Thursday, October 29, 2009
Devotions: Ps 50, 103; Neh 1:1-11; Rev 5:11-6:11; Mt 13:18-23

The Mighty One summons all the earth; He is a consuming fire, Captain of the tempest. He testifies against His people—He doesn’t need sacrifices, because He owns everything. What He wants is our selves, and our love, and our obedience. He knows how I hate discipline, and how I need it. He knows how indulgent I am; and He rebukes me. God’s tough love saves me; I will pay my vows, give my thanks and invest my trust in God alone. Let all that is within me bless and honor my God, Who forgives my sins and heals my diseases; He redeems my life and satisfies my needs. YHWH works vindication for me, and for all His people. He has revealed Himself to humankind; He made His ways known to Moses. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. His love is higher than the heavens; He separates me from my sins as far as east is from west. YHWH has pity on His own; we mortals would soon perish, but for the kindness of our God. Let all that lives bless the Lord!

Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa. Hearing of the troubles of the survivors in Jerusalem, he was disconsolate; he cried and mourned for days. He prayed that his God would forgive the sins of the Israelites and of Nehemiah and his own family. He cited God’s own word: ‘But if you return to Me and keep My commandments, I will gather My people to the place My name will dwell.’ And He begged God’s mercy: ‘Give success to Your servant today, and grant me mercy in the sight of this king.’

John witnessed the worship of God and the Lamb in heaven. When the Lamb opened the first seal on the heavenly scroll, one of the four living creatures thundered: ‘Come!’ And forth came a rider on a white horse, carrying a war bow; he was given a crown and went forth to conquer. When He opened the second seal and the order was given, ‘Come!’, forth came a bright red horse; its rider was sent to take peace from earth, and set men to kill one another; and he was given a great sword. The third seal was opened, and forth came a black horse; its rider carried a scale in his hand; a voice from among the living creatures spoke: ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm oil and wine!’ The fourth seal and summons brought forth a pale green horse, ridden by Death; Hades followed him, and they were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. The Lamb opened the fifth seal; and from beneath God’s heavenly altar the souls of those slain for the word of God and their testimony cried out: ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before You judge and avenge our blood on those who live on the earth?’ Each martyr was given a white robe; they were told to rest a little longer, until their number should be complete—those to be killed as they had been.

Jesus interpreted the parable of the sower, seeds and soils for His disciples: ‘When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and fails to understand, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart—this corresponds to the seed falling on the hard ground of the path. As for what was sown on shallow, rocky ground, this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; but he has no root in himself; so he endures for a while, but when tribulation or persecution comes on account of the word, just as immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is one who hears the word, but cares of the world and delight in wordly riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. And as for what was sown in good soil, this is one who hears and understands the word; he truly bears fruit, yielding one hundredfold, or sixty or thirty.’