Persist until God's sovereign conclusion

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. Please, I ask you to add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Devotions: Ps 38, 119:25-48; Gen 9:18-29; Heb 6:1-12; Jn 3:22-36

Lord, I yield; don’t punish me further. Your indignation saps my strength; I hurt all over. My folly and sin leave foul, festering wounds; I am in mourning. My enemies gloat in my weakness, and plot my final destruction. I am waiting upon You, YHWH; let me fall into Your hands. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. Don’t forsake me, Lord; hasten to help me, my Savior. My soul cleaves to the dust; I beg You, Lord, revive me! Help me understand Your precepts and live by Your standards. Strengthen me with Your word. Incline my heart to Your testimonies; turn me from vanities to verities. I thirst and hunger, Lord, for You, the Living Word, Living Water, Living Bread. Pour out Your steadfast love upon me, and keep me in Your care. I revere Your commands, Lord; You keep Your promises and enable what you demand.

Noah’s three sons left the ark with him: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah planted a vineyard; when he could, he made wine and drank it, and he became drunk and lay naked in his tent. Ham, father of Canaan, saw his father, drunk and exposed, and told his brothers about it. Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on their shoulders, and walked into the tent backward, covering their father’s nakedness without gazing on him. When Noah awakened, he learned of Ham’s offense; he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan; he will be a slave of slaves to his brothers. But blessed by YHWH Sabaoth my God be Shem; let Canaan be his slave. And God enlarge Japheth; let him dwell in Shem’s tents, with Canaan as his slave.’ After the flood, Noah lived another 350 years; he died at the age of 950.

The Hebrew writer resolved to leave behind elementary doctrine and move on to mature subjects—not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of instructions about ablutions, about laying on of hands, about resurrection of the dead, and about eternal judgment. It is impossible to restore to repentance those who have been enlightened, have received the Holy Spirit, have tasted the goodness of God and the powers of the coming age—and yet have become apostate; these ‘crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold Him up to contempt.’ Mortals are in this respect like arable land: if it takes in God’s rain and brings forth crops useful to those who cultivate it, God blesses such land. But if it bears only thorns and thistles, it is worthless; it is prone to be cursed; and in the end, it will be burned. But we are assured of a better outcome. God is just; He acknowledges work done and love expressed for His sake in serving the community of faith. Let each one show consistent earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that we will not be sluggish. Let us imitate those who through faith and patience actually inherit the promises of God.

Jesus led His disciples into Judea; there, He taught and baptized, as John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, where there was plentiful water. A dispute arose among John’s followers and a Jew over purification. They approached John, saying, ‘Rabbi, He Who was with you beyond the Jordan, to Whom you witnessed, is baptizing, and the people are flocking to Him.’ John answered: ‘No one receives anything except what is given from heaven. As you heard me say, I am not the Messiah; but I have been sent before Him. The One Who has the bride is the Bridegroom; His friend, who stands nearby and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the Bridegroom’s voice. This is my part, and this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.’ The One Who comes from above is above all; the earthy mortal belongs to the earth, and of earth he speaks. He Who comes from heaven is above all; He bears witness to what He has seen and heard—yet no one receives His testimony. But whoever does receive His testimony affirms that God is true. The One Whom God has sent utters God’s own words, and gives the Spirit fully, without holding back. 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 shall not see life; instead, God’s wrath rests upon him.