Eternal Life by faith in the Son

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

Saturday, January 30, 2010
Devotions: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-17; Gen 18:1-16; Heb 10:26-39; Jn 6:16-27

Lord, hear and answer my prayer. I’m struggling against determined enemies, and I need Your protection. Destroy their plots and disrupt their conspiracy. I call upon YHWH my Savior. I cast my burden on the Lord, and He will sustain me. He never permits the righteous to be disturbed. Cast them down, O Lord! I thank the Lord with all my heart. Great is the glory of the Lord, the Mighty One Who regards the lowly. YHWH will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. You have searched me and known me, Lord; You know my thoughts and all my ways. You surround me on every side; You Are before me and after me. You knit me together. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!

Abraham was resting at the door of his tent near the oaks of Mamre. Suddenly, three men appeared before him. He ran to them and bowed to the earth, and said, ‘My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let me have a little water brought and wash your feet; rest under the trees while I fetch a morsel of food, that you may refresh yourselves.’ The men said, ‘Do as you have said.’ Abraham hurried to the tent and told Sarah to make bread; he hurried to the flock, picked out a good and tender calf, and had a servant prepare it. Abraham took curds and milk and the veal he had prepared and set it before the three and stood nearby while they ate. They said to him, ‘Where is Sarah your wife?’ ‘She is in the tent,’ Abraham answered. The Lord said, ‘Surely I will return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’ Sarah was listening, and laughed to herself, since at her age, she had ceased menstruating and believed she could no longer bear children: ‘Shall I have this pleasure now, since I have grown old and my husband is even older?’ The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old?” Is anything too hard for YHWH. At the appointed time I will return to you, in the spring, and Sarah shall have a son.’ Sarah denied it, saying ‘I did not laugh,’ for she was afraid. He said, ‘No, but you did laugh.’ Then the men set out, traveling toward Sodom; and Abraham accompanied them, to set them on their way.

The Hebrew writer continues: Moses considered abuse suffered for the Messiah’s sake as wealth greater than the treasures of Egypt. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing Pharaoh’s anger; Moses endured as one who perceived Him Who is invisible. By faith he kept the first Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the first-born might not touch the Israelites. By faith the Israelites crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land, while the Egyptians were drowned when they tried to do the same. By faith, Jericho’s walls fell before the people of God after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot of Jericho did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to Joshua’s spies. Time fails for me to consider Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. Through faith, these conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing ot accept release, so that they might rise to a better life. Others suffered mocking, scourging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, killed with swords, dressed in animal skins, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—these of whom the world is not worthy, wandering over deserts and mountains, dwelling in dens and caves of the earth. All these, though well-attested by their faith, did not receive what had been promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect!

After Jesus had fed the multitude from five loaves and two fish, in the evening His disciples went to the lakeside and departed in boats toward Capernaum. It was dark, and Jesus had not come to them. A strong wind arose, and the seas were rising. When they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus, walking on the water and approaching the boat. They were frightened; but He said to them, ‘I AM—do not be afraid.’ They were glad and took Him into the boat—and immediately the boat arrived at the land to which they were going. The next day, the crowds searching for Jesus headed to Capernaum. When they found Him there, they asked, ‘Rabbi when did you come here?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly I tell you, you seek Me because you ate your fill of the loaves. But don’t labor for food that perishes; rather, seek the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. For God the Father has set His seal on the Son of man.’