Under God's management

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.

Friday, October 9, 2009
Devotions: Ps 140-43; 2 Ki 23:36-24:17; 1 Cor 12:12-26; Mt 9:27-34

Lord, deliver me from sharp-tongued, evil men! You are my God, my Strong Deliverer. Let the wicked experience the full force of their sin and folly, and may the righteous give thanks at the power and goodness of God our Savior. Please, Lord: set a guard over my mouth, and keep my heart from evil. Help me to work constructively on godly projects. Let the good rebuke me, and I will be truly corrected; but keep the honors of the wicked far from me. Let me use my gift and calling to prayer to serve Your will, my Lord. I turn my eyes and my heart to You, my Refuge. Let the wicked fall into their own traps, Lord, while I escape! When I pour out my need and pain, God listens; He delivers me and deals bountifully with me. We are all sinners before the Holy One, but God gives more grace and mercy. This morning, let me hear of Your steadfast love, for I put my trust in You. Teach me the way I must god and deliver me; guide me on Your level path, to Your glory. I am Yours, my Lord.

Jehoiakim came to Judah’s throne at age 25, and ruled in Jerusalem. He submitted to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon for three years, but then rebelled. So the king of Babylon sent overwhelming forces against Judah. All this came because of the sins of Jehoiakim’s ancestor Manasseh. Next came Jehoiachin, an 18-year-old who ruled only three months. He surrendered himself and the royal household to Nebuchadnezzar, and was taken into exile, along with all the treasures of YHWH’s temple and the king’s palace, and all the nobles and craftsmen of Jerusalem. Only the poorest peasants remained. And Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah as king, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

By one Spirit, people of diverse backgrounds and social strata are joined together into one body. All are important, all are necessary, and each has its own place and function. God has chosen and gifted and arranged us as it pleases Him. We need this diversity to function. In fact, the parts of the body which seem weaker or inferior actually are indispensable. As we treat our less presentable organs with modesty, so God gives greater secular status and honor to the individuals who are inherently less important. This guards against undue discord in the body; we should all care for one another, and respect our differences. If one is honored, all should celebrate; if one is suffering, we suffer together.

Two blind men pursued Jesus, calling after Him. They came to Him in His dwelling; He asked, ‘Do you believe I Am able to do this?’ And they said, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Jesus touched their eyes, saying ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were healed, and they could see. Jesus sternly charged them not to tell anyone about their healing, but they spread His fame throughout their region. As they departed, another man, demon-possessed and unable to speak, was brought to Jesus. When He had cast out the demon, the man spoke, and the crowds marveled: ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees grumbled, ‘He casts out demons by the prince of demons!’