Abide, trust, follow

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, February 27, 2010
Devotions: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-17; Gen 41:1-13; 1 Cor 4:1-7; Mk 2:23-3:6

Lord, hear my prayer and make Yourself known to me; I am troubled with guilt within and the commotion of the enemy and oppression of the wicked. They seek to trouble me and cherish enmity against me. I struggle against fear and trembling; I want to run away. Lord, I beg You: destroy their plots and confuse their communications; violence prowls our world. And my struggles are not only against declared enemies; it hurts more to be betrayed by those who say they are my friends. I will trust in God alone, and YHWH will save me. God will humble my enemies. I share this counsel: cast your burden on YHWH; He will sustain us! He will never permit the righteous to be moved. And You, my God, will cast our adversaries down into the lowest pit, as we trust in You! Lord, I thank You with my whole heart; all other ‘gods’ are beneath You; You are exalted above all creatures. Earthly powers must praise and bow before You, O YHWH; for great is the glory of the Lord! You preserve my life amid all my troubles. God will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, YHWH, endures forever. Lord, You have searched me and You know me—everything about me, past, present and future are one to You. You know what I think, what I will say, even before I begin to speak. Thank You, that there is no place I can go apart from Your Spirit. You knit me together and You care for me; how I treasure Your regard for me, my God! How priceless are Your thoughts and Your laws!

Two years after Joseph had interpreted the butler’s dream, Pharaoh also had two troubling dreams, and none of his soothsayers could give a proper interpretation. This prompted the chief butler to recall Joseph; he told the king, ‘I remember my faults today. When Pharaoh was angry with us, he put the chief baker and me in the custody of the captain of the guard. One night, the baker and I had dreams, and a young Hebrew, servant of the captain of the guard, interpreted our dreams, and both interpretations came true: I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.’ So Pharaoh had Joseph brought before him from the dungeon.

Christians should be regarded as servants and stewards in Christ’s service, administering the mysteries of God. Stewards must be trustworthy. And it is not significant how a servant of Christ is judged be other mortals, or even by oneself. As Paul wrote, ‘I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted by that fact. The Lord judges me.’ So, let us not make premature judgments, before the Lord returns; He will bring to light things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the unseen purposes of the heart. Then every mortal will receive his commendation from God. ‘I have applied these principles to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers and sisters. Learn by us not to go beyond what is written, so that you don’t get inflated with self-importance against one another. Everything you have is from God; don’t boast about what has been given to you at no cost to you.’

As Jesus led His party through the grainfields on a Sabbath, His disciples began to pluck and eat heads of grain. The Pharisees, always vigilant to criticize, said to Jesus, ‘Look! Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ Jesus said, ‘Haven’t you read what David did when in need and hungry, he and those in his party: he entered God’s house during the high priesthood of Abiathar and ate the bread of the Presence—which is unlawful for any but the priests to eat; and David even shared it with his companions. The Sabbath I smade for man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’ Another time Jesus entered a synagogue; with Him there was a man who had a withered hand. Jesus said to this man, ‘Come here.’ Then Jesus said to the others present, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?’ They remained silent. Jesus looked around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart; and He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ The man did this, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees left the synagogue and immediately conspired with the Herodians against Jesus, about how to destroy Him.