YHWH's kids can survive!

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 encourage you to add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Saturday, January 23, 2010
Devotions: Ps 30, 32, 42, 43; Gen 12:9-13:1; Heb 7:18-28; Jn 4:27-42

YHWH, I praise You, for You have not let my foes rejoice over me; Your anger is brief, Your mercy and love are everlasting. You have turned my mourning into dancing, and clothed me in joy. I give You thanks now and always. Blessed are all whose transgressions are forgiven, to whom God imputes no iniquity. I confess my sins to You, and You provide me a refuge. Teach me Your ways. Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Shout for you, all you upright in heart. I thirst for God like a thirsty stag in the desert. But why be downcast, my soul? Hope in God; He is trustworthy. You are the God in Whom I take refuge. Let Your light and truth lift me to Your holy dwelling, and I will rest in God’s glory and love.

Abram journeyed on into the Negev. There was a famine, which drove Abram and his party into Egypt. He feared the Egyptians would kill him in order to possess his beautiful wife, Sarai, so they conspired to present themselves as brother and sister. As expected, Sarai attracted Pharaoh’s attention, and she was taken into his house., and for her sake, Pharaoh treated Abram very well; his wealth increased in sheep, oxen, donkeys, servants and camels. But YHWH afflicted Pharaoh’s household with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Eventually, Pharaoh understood and confronted Abram; he returned Sarai to her husband and sent them away with all he had acquired in Egypt. And so Abram and his household returned to the Negev.

The Hebrew writer continues: The former commandments were set aside, because they were weak and useless, making nothing perfect; but a better hope was provided, by which we draw near to God. Jesus was made an eternal High Priest, and He is the surety of a better covenant. There were numerous priests in past times—many in number, but mortal, prevented by death from continuing their office. But Jesus holds a permanent priesthood, and is able to save for all time those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for us. He is the perfect priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He is without sin, and so has no need to offer sacrifices for Himself; instead, He offered Himself once for all, and is appointed by the word of God’s promise, a Son made perfect for ever!

Jesus’ disciples returned from buying food in Sychar, and were surprised to find Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. The woman left her water jar, and went into the city, encouraging people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could He be the Messiah?’ Meanwhile, the disciples tried to get Jesus to eat some of the food they had brought; but He said, ‘My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work. You know how to recognize a coming harvest. So look! See how the fields are ripe for harvest here. Whoever reaps earns wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. I have sent you to reap what others have sown; others have worked so that you can succeed.’ Many Samaritans put faith in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony; and Jesus stayed two more days in the city. Many more believed in Jesus based on their direct observation of Him: ‘We have heard for ourselves now, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’