All history comes down to Jesus

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

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Devotions: Ps 18; Gen 4:17-26; Heb 3:1-11; Jn 1:43-51

YHWH, my Rock and my Strength, I love You! I call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised; in this way, I am saved from my enemies—from death, from malice. God lifts me out of the predicaments I encounter, and places me on a high rock. He rewards me according to His righteousness; He delivers the humble and brings down the arrogant. My power is in God, not my own cunning or strength. God lights my way; He brings me out of darkness. With God, I can defeat a troop, clear a wall, fulfill any task. My God—His way is perfect! God has trained me for life—strong arms, salvation’s shield, solid footing. God, You have given me strength for the battle and made my assailants sink under me! I beat them fine as dust, by Your grace. YHWH lives, and blessed is this God, my Savior!

Cain had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to Enoch; Cain built a city and named it after Enoch his son. And the generations continued: Enoch fathered Irad, and in turn, Irad begot Mehujael, Methushael, and Lamech. Lamech had two wives, Adah, the mother of Jabal, ancestor of those who dwell in tents and tend cattle and Jubal, ancestor of musicians. Zillah bore Tubal-cain, forger of implements of bronze and iron, and his sister Naamah. Lamech addressed Adah and Zillah: ‘Listen: I have killed a man for wounding me; if Can is avenged seven times, truly Lamech is avenged seventy-seven times!’ Meanwhile, Adam and Eve had another son, and named him Seth, appointed to take the place of Abel, whom Cain killed. In time, Seth fathered Enosh, in the era when humans began to call upon the name of YHWH.

Let all the holy family, who share in God’s call, ponder Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confess. He was faithful to God Who appointed Him. Just as Moses was faithful in God’s household—but Jesus was accordeded more glory, since the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. Every house, and every household, has some maker—but the Builder of all things is God! Moses was faithful in all God’s house as God’s servant, and he testified concerning the things that would later be spoken and done. But the Messiah was faithful over God’s house, as a Son. And we are His house if we hold fast our faith and take pride in our hope. Hear the Holy Spirit: ‘Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, when your forefathers put Me to the test, and then had to witness My works another forty years. I was provoked with that generation, and declared, “They always stray in their hearts; they have not known My ways.” As I swore in My wrath, “They shall never enter My rest.”’

Having encountered Peter and Andrew, the next Day Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and called Philip to follow him. Philip was a resident of Bethsaida, like Peter and Andrew. And Philip found Nathanael and said: ‘We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Torah and the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.’ Nathanael had doubts: ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Said Philip, ‘Come and see!’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite in whom is no guile.’ Nathanael said to Jesus, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip called you.’ At this, Nathanael’s attitude changed: ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus said, ‘Because I said that I saw you under the fig tree, do you now believe? You will see much greater things than these. Most solemnly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man.’