Rigorous discipline for eternal life

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

Thursday and Friday, February 4 and 5, 2010
Devotions: Ps 69, 70, 71, 73, 74; Gen 23:1 24:51; Heb 11:32-12:11; Jn 6:60-7:13

Lord God, be pleased to deliver me. My enemies are legion, and I’m exhausted. You know I am a sinner; I have no claim to holiness, except my faith in You. Let me be consumed by zeal for Your house, not for my own survival. At an acceptable time, O God, answer me in the abundance of Your steadfast love. Redeem and vindicate me, I pray. Let my enemies be put to shame and confusion, turned back in dishonor. And may all who seek You rejoice and declare, ‘God is great!’ I am poor and needy, Lord; hasten to me, my Help and Deliverer. I take my refuge in You. Rescue me from the hand of the wicked; You alone are my Hope. I lean on You and praise You all day long. Keep me in my old age; forsake me not, Lord, since my natural strength is so far gone. Put my accusers to shame, as I praise You alone. God blesses the upright, the pure in heart. I am not one of them; I have stumbled again and again, and I know I am a sinner. I was perplexed until I sat in God’s presence and contemplated all this. I can see now that we’re all sinners; our future depends on what we do about God, not what we are. God puts His enemies on a slippery slope, and lifts up those who trust in Him. I have no hope except in God my Savior. God is the strength of my heart. You, Lord, are my Portion forever. You have done great things, and I worship You. I will speak of Your greatness at every opportunity, and point to the disgrace of Your enemies. How they have desecrated Your holy places and Your holy name. Let prophets again speak for You, YHWH! Put the scoffing foe to shame; work Your salvation among us. Show Your regard for Your covenant; drive the violence and darkness from Your heritage; let the poor and needy praise Your name, O God!

Sarah lived 127 years and died at Kiriath Arba (Hebron). Abraham went to the Hittites seeking to buy a burial plot for his wife and himself and their descendants. Following the customs of the community, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah and the field around it for 400 silver shekels, and there Abraham buried Sarah. Abraham then sent a trusted servant under oath to seek a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s kindred in Mesopotamia. The servant traveled with ten camels loaded with provisions and gifts for the mission, and traveled to Nahor. He prayed for a specific sign from God concerning the woman to be betrothed to Isaac, and the sign was provided when Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, appeared. She was a beautiful virgin, polite and hospitable. She welcomed the stranger, offered him a drink from the well, and watered his camels. The servant announced himself and his mission to Rebekah, and she invited him to lodge with her family. The servant laid his mission before Bethuel and Rebekah’s brother Laban, and they responded, ‘The thing is from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.’


The Hebrew writer had no time to discuss the faith stories of Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, and their exploits and trials—all of whom, though well-attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised to them, because God had foreseen something better, to be fulfilled in the days of the church of Jesus. The perfection of these early champions of faith was delayed until they were joined by the followers of Jesus. So, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the course marked out for us, with our gaze fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Let us meditate on Him, Who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that we do not grow weary and lose heart. In our struggles against sin, we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood. Let us recall the exhortation that addresses us as sons: ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when we are punished by Him. For YHWH disciplines those whom He loves; He chastises every son whom He receives.’ We have had to endure as a discipline. God is treating us as His sons—the only ones a loving father troubles himself to discipline. Only illegitimate children are not disciplined—not sons and heirs. We have respected our earthly parents when and as they disciplined us. How much more shall we be subject to the disciplines of the heavenly Father of spirits, so that we may live! Our parents disciplined us for a short time, as pleased them; but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. At the moment, every discipline seems harsh and painful, rather than pleasant; later, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those trained by it.

Even among Jesus’ disciples, many murmured at His teaching that followers must eat His flesh and drink His blood. He challenged them: ‘Do you take offense at this? What if you were to see the Son of man ascending to where He was before? The Spirit alone gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe.’ Jesus knew from the first who did not believe, and who would betray Him. After this, many who had followed Jesus drew back. Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Peter answered Him: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered, ‘And I chose you Myself, yet one of you is a devil.’ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, who would betray Him. After this, Jesus stayed in Galilee; He did not venture into Judea, because the Jews there sought to kill Him. The Jewish feast of Tabernacles was approaching, so Jesus’ human brothers challenged Him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing.’ Even they did not believe in Him. Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come; but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that its works are evil. Go to the feast yourselves; I Am not going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.’ And He stayed in Galilee. But after His brothers had departed, Jesus also went up to Jerusalem, not publicly, but in private. The Jews were searching for Him at the feast, and asking, ‘Where is he?’ There was a lot of gossip about Him among the people. Some said, “He is a good man,’ others said, ‘No, he is leading the people astray.’ For fear of the Jews, no one spoke of Jesus openly.