Protected, acquitted, resurrected

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.

December 7, 2009
Devotions: Ps 9, 15, 25; Amos 7:1-9; Rev 1:1-8; Mt 22:23-33

I will rejoice and exult in YHWH; God defeats my enemies; He is the Stronghold of His people. Praise our God, Who dwells in Zion. Declare His great deeds among the people. God remembers the poor. The one who walks blamelessly and does what is right will live in God’s own household. He will never be shaken! YHWH, I lift my soul to You; my trust is in You, my God. Let none who wait on You be put to shame. Lord, forget the sins of my youth; remember me by Your steadfast love, and help me keep Your covenant and testimonies. Pardon my great guilt, holy Lord; let my family abide in prosperity, as Your friends. I keep my eyes on Jesus; let His integrity and righteousness preserve me!

God showed Amos the vision of a plague of locusts developing and devouring the grass of the land. Amos interceded and God relented; the devastation did not take place. God showed Amos a judgment by fire, so intense it swallowed the oceans and began to incinerate the land. Again Amos interceded, and again, God relented and did not fulfill the vision. Then, Amos saw God holding a plumbline, by which to judge the uprightness of His people; their idolatries would be judged and their land and places of worship laid waste. Amaziah, priest of Behel disputed with Amos over this; he charged the prophet with conspiracy against King Jeroboam; Amaziah demanded that Amos depart from Israel; but Amos responded, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; I tended sheep and sycamore fig trees. But YHWH sent me to prophesy to His people in Israel; the words and the judgment are God’s. So now hear what else YHWH says: “Your own wife will become a harlot in the city; your sons and daughters will fall to the sword; your land will be parceled out to others, and you will die in an unclean land—and Israel will go into exile far from its land.”’

From Patmos John reports the revelation of Jesus Christ, given Him by God, to show God’s servants what must soon take place. All this was revealed by the angel Jesus sent to His servant John, to witness to God’s word and the testimony of Jesus the Messiah. Blessed is anyone who reads these words, and those who hear, and those who keep what is written here: for the time is near. John addresses the seven churches in Asia: grace and peace from Him Who is, Who was, and Who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus, the Messiah, the faithful Witness, Firstborn from the dead, and Ruler of kings on earth. Glory and dominion forever be to Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by means of His blood, and Who has made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father. Look: He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see Him—including those who pierced Him; and all the clans of earth will wail on His account. Just so. Amen.

Jesus was confronted by Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection: ‘Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us; the eldest married a wife, but died before they had children; the second married her, and also died childless. Thus it happened with all seven brothers, and finally the woman died, too—no children born to any of these unions. Now: in the resurrection, which will be her husband, for they all had her, and none fathered children with her. Jesus answered, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. In the resurrection, there is no marriage; the people are like angels in heaven. As to the resurrection, you should recall what God had written to you: “I Am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” He is not the God of the dead, but of the living!’ The crowds hearing this were astonished at Jesus’ teaching.