Well come, Lord!

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.

Tuesday and Wednesday, December 15 and 16, 2009
Devotions: Ps 45, 47-49, 119:49-72; Zech 2:1-3:10; Rev 3:14-4:8; Mt 24:32-51

I praise Jesus my King: fairest of men, mighty captain, majestic leader, royal ruler, eternal husband and lord! Let all peoples celebrate and praise our God; YHWH, the Most High, is awesome Master of all creation. Let us praise our God and exalt His name. Let all look upon His ramparts and wonder! This is our God for ever! Let all earth’s peoples listen: we have nothing to fear; all humans are mortal, wise and foolish, wealthy and poor. But God can save us forever. Lord, help me to understand and obey Your word. I take comfort in Your precepts; YHWH is my Portion, and I am blessed! I am friend to all who follow God. All the earth echoes back the glories of God. Lord, teach me good judgment, and help me treasure and obey Your law.

Zechariah encounters ‘a man with a measuring line in his hand’ who is going to measure Jerusalem. God’s glory surrounds and fills His holy city. He will return His people to Jerusalem and save them there. Let the daughter of Zion rejoice; let the Gentiles come to God and join themselves to Him. The Lord has chosen Judah and Jerusalem for His own abode among His people. God also rebuked Satan as the evil one sought to harm Joshua, God’s high priest. God has cleansed him of all iniquity, and the prophet and the high priest’s attendants clothed him in the clean garments fitting for his office. Then God charged the high priest to keep his commands and walk in His ways. And God promised: ‘I will bring My servant, the Branch. And I will inscribe a seven-sided stone, and remove the guilt of this land. And under My peace and protection, every one of you will invite his neighbor under his vine and fig tree.’

Jesus said to the church at Laodicea: ‘The words of the Faithful and True, the Amen, the beginning of God’s creation: I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot—would that you were one or the other! I will spew you out of My mouth. For you say “I am rich, I have prospered, I lack nothing.” But you are wrong; you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked! I counsel you: buy gold from me, refined in fire, so that you will be rich in truth; buy white garments to cover your nakedness; buy salve to anoint your eyes, so that you can see. I chasten and reprove those I love. Look: I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To those who conquer, I grant to them to sit with Me on My throne—just as I conquered and sat with My Father on His throne. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ John looked and saw an open door in heaven, and the trumpet-voice bade him come up, ‘And I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once, John was in the Spirit; before him, he saw a throne in heaven and One seated on it. He appeared ‘like jasper and carnelian; around His throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. Around His throne were 24 other thrones, and 24 elders sat on them, clothed in white with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne issued flashes of lightning, voices, and peals of thunder; before the throne burned seven torches of fir, the seven spirits of God. And before the throne was as it were a sea of glass like crystal. Around the throne were for living creatures, covered with eyes—the first like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a human face, and the fourth like a flying eagle. Each had six wings, also covered with eyes, and the creatures constantly sing: “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and they exist and have being by Your will!’”

Jesus taught His disciples: ‘Learn this lesson from the fig tree: when the leaves come out, summer is near. Likewise, when you see the signs I have described, you know that the Lord is at the gates! This generation will not pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not. However, no one knows the day and hour—not heaven’s angels, nor even the Son—only the Father! The coming of the Son of man will be as in the days of Noah. People went on with their lives, eating, drinking, marrying—until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and swept all others away. On the day I come again, two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken, the other is left. So watch! You don’t know the day when your Lord will come. Know this: if a householder knew when a burglar was coming, he’d be prepared and would protect his house. So be ready: the Son of man is coming at an hour you don’t expect. The master chooses a wise and faithful servant to watch over and care for his household while he is away; blessed is the servant whom his master, upon returning, finds doing these things faithfully. He will set that servant over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant shirks his charge, mistreats his fellow servants, and carouses with the drunks, the master will return unexpected, and will punish that servant, and put him with the hypocrites, where all will weep and gnash their teeth.’