Sin no more

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

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Devotions: Ps 78; Gen 26:1-33; Heb 13:17-25; Jn 7:53-8:11

Asaph wrote: Listen, people: I am going to open deep truths we need to remember, concerning the works of our Lord and God. He established His testimony among the line of Jacob, and commanded that each generation teach His truth to their children. But we repeatedly fall away from God and His words. The Ephramites turned back in a day of battle, despite the marvels YHWH had worked in the days of their ancestor Joseph and when He delivered the people from Egypt. God opened the Red Sea to them; He led them through the desert and fed them, gave them water and meat. Yet they repeatedly doubted and sinned against the Most High in the desert. God’s wrath left an entire sinful generation dead in the desert; He laid low the choicest men of Israel. And they sinned again and again. Their hearts were not steadfast toward YHWH; yet our compassionate God did not destroy them utterly. How He had demonstrated His love and power before them—the plagues in Egypt and the miracles in the wilderness—yet they were treacherous to God and did not follow His commands. So God abandoned His sanctuary at Shiloh; He let His ark fall into Philistine hands. He let His people face powerful oppression. Yet God did not utterly abandon His people or betray His covenant. He chose the tribe of Judah as His own, and put His servant David over His people as their king. And David, under God, tended His people like a skillful shepherd.

A famine befell Canaan in the days of Isaac. God directed Isaac not to go down to Egypt, but to stay in the region of Gerar. As Abraham had done, Isaac told the local people that his beautiful wife was his sister. But Abimelech, king of the Philistines, happened to see Isaac fondling Rebekah his wife, and confronted Isaac. Isaac explained that his deception was guided by his fear, but Abimelech also understood the jeopardy his own people faced. So he warned his citizens to leave Isaac and Rebekah alone, under penalty of death. With this protection, Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold as YHWH blessed him. Isaac became very rich while sojourning in Gerar, and the Philistines envied him. Finally, Abimelech told Isaac to move away, ‘for you are much mightier than we.’ Isaac obeyed, and began to redig wells his ancestory Abraham had dug in the valley of Gerar. The local herdsmen disputed with Isaac’s servants over two of these wells. Finally, Isaac removed to a more remote area and there was no dispute over the third well, which he named Rehoboth, which connotes ‘room enough in this broad place.’ The Lord had provided the space Isaac and his household needed. From Rehoboth, Isaace went up to Beersheba, where YHWH appeared to him, saying, “I Am the God of your ancestor Abraham; fear not, for I Am with you and will bless you and multiply your descendants for Abraham’s sake.’ Isaac built an altar, worshiped, and encamped, and his servants dug a well. Abimelech and his advisor Ahuzzath and his general Phicol visited Isaac in his new location. They could see that God favored Isaac, so they sought a treaty with him—mutual non-aggression, and good will.’ The agreement was made, and the next morning, the visitors departed in peace. That same day, Isaac’s servants completed a well, which Isaac named Shibah—another explanation for naming the city there Beer-sheba.’

The Hebrew writer concludes: Obey and submit to your leaders, who watch over your souls and are accountable. Help them to do this joyfully, not sadly. Pray for those who teach you, that we may have a clear conscience, acting honorably in all things. May the God of peace, Who raised from death our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good, so that you may do His will, working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus the Messiah. To God be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Brothers and sisters, bear with the words of my brief exhortation. Timothy has been released, and I’ll come to you with him, if he comes soon. Greet all your leaders and every member of the Christian community. Those from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with you all. Amen.

As He came to teach at the temple one morning, Jesus was confronted by scribes and Pharisees who brought before Him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. Placing her in the midst of the crowd, they said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. In Torah, Moses commanded us to stone such as her. What do you say about her?’ They wanted to establish some charge against Jesus. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground. As they continued to question Him, He rose and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone at her.’ And He bent again and continued writing with His finger on the ground. One by one, the accusers departed, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. Jesus looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.’