Have faith, not fear

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

Friday, March 5, 2010
Devotions: Ps 69, 73, 95; Gen 43:1-15; 1 Cor 7:1-9; Mk 4:35-41

Save me, God! I’m up to my neck in a swamp of trouble, surrounded by slandering enemies. God, You know I’m a sinner, but I have confessed my sins to You, and I stand with You against those who hate both You and me. I am consumed with zeal for You, and I trust in You. At an acceptable time, answer me and pour out Your steadfast love on me, Lord. Rescue me from the mire and the depths of despair. Jesus bore my reproach, so let the punishment fall on those who ignore or scorn Him. I will praise God with all my strength; let all creation laud our Maker and Master. Build up Your city, Lord, and settle Your remnant there! I no longer envy the arrogant, for I have seen their future. God puts them on a slippery slope to ruin. There is nothing on earth that I now desire except You, my God. God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. It is good to stay near God and to tell of His goodness.

As the famine continued, the grain Jacob’s sons had brought back from Egypt was exhausted. Jacob again told his sons to got to Egypt to buy food, but Judah confronted him with the words of Egypt’s overlord: ‘You won’t see my face again unless your youngest brother is with you.’ Israel protested, but Judah prevailed. Israel sent his sons, including Benjamin, along with gifts from Canaan and double the money for the grain, ‘and may El Shaddai grant you mercy before the man, that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. And if I am bereaved, I am bereaved!’ So they set forth and appeared again before Joseph, though they didn’t know the Egyptian overlord was actually their brother.

Paul continued his responses to questions and issues raised by the Corinthian church: It is well for a man to be celibate. But because of the temptation this arouses, each man and woman should have their own spouse and give their partner exclusive conjugal rights. The wife’s body is ruled by her husband, and the husband’s body by his wife. Do not deprive one another, except by mutual agreement so that you can devote yourselves to prayer, but then come together again, so that Satan cannot tempt you through lack of self-control. I wish that everyone could be celibate like me, but I concede that is not everyone’s gift—God provides our gifts by His sovereign decision, and each Christian has his or her own unique gift. I tell the unmarried and the widowed to remain single, if they can. But if they cannot sustain celibacy, they should marry: it is better to marry than to be aflame with lust.

Jesus led His disciples into boats to cross the Sea of Galilee. Several boats set out together. As they voyaged, a great storm arose, and the waves beat against the boats, beginning to swamp them. Jesus was in the stern asleep on a cushion, and His shipmates woke Him: ‘Teacher, don’t You care if we perish?’ Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a profound calm. Jesus said to his shipmates, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’ And they were filled with awe, and remarked to one another, ‘Who is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him?’