Encourage one another

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. As you read, I encourage you to add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Friday, January 29, 2010
Devotions: Ps 40, 51, 54; Gen 17:15-27; Heb 10:11-25; Jn 6:1-15

I waited patiently for the Lord and He heard my cry and drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the mire. God set me on a Rock, and put a new song in my heart, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust. Lord God, You have multiplied Your wondrous deeds and thoughts toward us. None can compare with You. You have given me an open ear; You have not required animal sacrifices—instead, You want myself; and I delight to do Your will. I will proclaim Your goodness to me. Lord, do not conceal Your steadfast love and faithfulness, for evils encompass me and my own sins overtake me. As I cast myself on You, my Lord, make haste to help me; let my enemies be turned back and brought to dishonor. Lord, do not tarry! Come to my rescue and deliver me. Have mercy according to Your steadfast love, Lord; cleanse me thoroughly from every stain of sin; wash me whiter than snow; fill me with Your joy and gladness; blot out my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart and an upright spirit, O God. Then I will be able to teach sinners Your ways; open my mouth to praise You, God! Vindicate me and hear my prayers. YHWH is my Helper and my Savior. I give God myself, and all I have is His.

God told Abraham, ‘Your wife will no longer be called Sarai, but Sarah. I will bless her and give you a son by her; she shall become the mother of nations.’ Abraham fell on his face and laughed to think that a man a century old and a 90-year-old woman would have a son and heir. Abraham said to God, ‘Lord, let Ishmael live in Your sight!’ But God said, ‘No, Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him and with his descendants forever. As for Ishmael, I will also bless him exceedingly. Twelve princes shall be his sons, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant will be with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.’ And God ascended from Abraham. In obedience, Abraham took Ishmael his son and every male in his household and circumcised them that very day, as God had spoken. Abraham was 99 when he was circumcised; Ishmael was 13; and they were circumcised along with every male in Abraham’s household.

The Hebrew writer continues his discussion of the priesthood: Every Aaronic priest stands at his service daily, offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when the Messiah had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, to wait until His enemies should be made a stool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time everyone who is sanctified. The Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,’ then He adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their misdeed no more.’ So, my brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the true sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way He opened for us through the curtain of His own flesh, and since we have a great High Priest over God’s house, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us cling fast to the confession of hour hope, unwavering, for He Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may stir one another up to love and good deeds; let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing; but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, and a multitude followed Him, because of the signs He had accomplished in healing those who were sick. Jesus went up on a mountain, and sat down there with His disciples. Jesus looked over the approaching multitude and said to Philip, ‘How are we to buy bread so that all these may eat?’ Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii—eight months’ wages—would not buy enough to give each even a morsel.’ But Andrew said to Jesus, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they among so many?’ Jesus told the disciples to have the crowd sit down in the grass; there were about five thousand men. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated; so also with the fish. And everyone had all that they wanted. Then, Jesus told His disciples to gather up the fragments, so that nothing was lost. They gathered twelve basketfuls of fragments from the meal. The people concluded, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus perceived that they were about to come and make him king by force, so He withdrew to the mountain alone.