The reign of God

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. I invite to you add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will.

Friday and Saturday, December 25-26 – Christmas 2009
Devotions: Ps 2, 85, 110:1-5; 132; Micah 4:1-5; 5:2-4; 1 Jn 4:7-16; Jn 3:31-36

The nations and elemental spirits conspire against YHWH and His Anointed One—but God holds them in derision, and laughs. God has begotten a Son; the nations are His heritage, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. Let us serve the Son and kiss His feet. God has favored His people, and given us His peace and His salvation. God’s steadfast love and righteousness reach down from heaven; human faithfulness and peace reach up from earth. The Lord has given us His very best; His path is the way of light and love and peace. The Father says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. Rule among Your people. You are an eternal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord will shatter kings on the day of His wrath and judge the nations with Your power and authority. David was determined to provide a house for God amid the people of Jerusalem. So let God arise, scatter His enemies, and take up His throne amid His people. He has set Jesus, Son of David, on Israel’s throne. This is God’s home forever; His enemies will be shamed eternally, and He will rule in majesty. The people will flow to His presence, ascending God’s mountain, to His house, to dwell in His presence. God will be Judge of all; and the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; the nations will study war no more, and every one will sit under his own vines and fig trees; there shall be no fear, for God’s own mouth has declared eternal peace. We will walk in the name of YHWH our God for ever. From Bethlehem Ephrathah, small among Judah’s clans, shall arise One who will be Ruler in Israel. He will arise and feed His flock in the strength of YHWH, in the majesty of God’s name. And we will dwell secure, in His power and His peace.

Let us love one another with God’s love; whoever loves is born of God, for God is love. God’s love is manifest among us in the presence of His Son, Who has come that we may live through Him. Love consists in God’s initiative, sending His Son to be the expiation for our sins. And if God has loved us, we ought to love one another! No one has seen God; but if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected among and within us. God has given us His Spirit, by Whom we testify that the Father has sent His Son as Savior of the world. God abides within anyone who testifies that Jesus is the Son of God, and that one also abides in God.

Jesus, Who comes from above, is above all; the ones who are from earth belong to earth, and they speak of earth. The One from heaven is above all, bearing witness to what He has seen and heard; yet no one receives His testimony. However, all who receive the testimony of Jesus affirm that God is true. He Whom God has sent utters God’s own words; for He has the Spirit in fullness. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son does not see life; rather, God’s wrath rests upon him.