Abide: God's kingdom has come, is coming, and will come

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.

Monday, November 23, 2009
Devotions: Ps 106; Joel 3:1-17; 1 Pet 1:1-12; Mt 19:1-12

God’s steadfast love endures forever. Blessed are all who cling to YHWH to do His will. We are sinners, as were our ancestors; but God is faithful through the course of our transgressions and repentance. God has never taken for Himself the rich or the mighty; He has taken the poor, the despised, the small, the stubborn. Lord our God, save us from ourselves and from our enemies. Blessed is YHWH, the God of Israel, forever. We praise You, our Lord!

God will gather His people to the Valley of Decision and there enter into judgment on us. God will requite on the nations their misdeeds and malice against Him and His people. Our God is preparing for war! Let us prepare to serve Him in His Day of Judgment. All nature quivers before the coming wrath of the Master; but He is a refuge and stronghold to His own people. He will restore His kingdom and save His people forever.

The apostle Peter wrote to the exiles in the Diaspora: ‘chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus the Messiah and for sprinkling with His blood: grace and peace be multiplied to you! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah! By His great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from the dead; we have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading; it is stored for us in heaven, for by God’s power we are guarded through faith for salvation which will be revealed in the last time. Let us rejoice in this, despite our temporary trials, which simply test the genuineness of our faith, precious beyond gold. This testing will prove our faith, and redound to praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus the Messiah. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; without seeing Him yet, you love Him, you believe in Him, and you rejoice with unutterable, exalted joy! Your faith results in the salvation of your souls. The former prophets of God, who prophesied about the grace you have received, searched and inquired after this salvation. They sought the Spirit of God’s revelation concerning the coming, dying, resurrection and glorification of the Messiah. They learned that they were not serving themselves, but rather they were serving you, in those very things which have now been announced to you by those whom the Holy Spirit sent from heaven to preach the good news to you—things that even God’s angels longed to learn.

Jesus departed Galilee for the Judean region east of the Jordan. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. Pharisees also came to Him and tested Him: ‘Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?’ Jesus answered: ‘Haven’t you read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and declared, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh”? It was due to your hard hearts that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning this was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and then marries another, commits adultery.’ Jesus’ disciples said, ‘If this is God’s way, it seems expedient not to marry.’ But Jesus answered them, ‘Not all men can receive this saying—only those who are called and gifted for it. Some are eunuchs from birth; some have been castrated by human means; and some have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of heaven’s kingdom. Whoever is able, let him receive this!’