No more flirting with sin!

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have, for the entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Thursday, April 15, 2010
Devotions: Ps 18; Exod 16:10-21; 1 Pet 2:11-25; Jn 15:12-27

I take refuge in God, Who is my Rock and Refuge; He is worthy to be praised, and so I am saved from my enemies. I am entangled in patterns that lead to death and damnation, but as I cry to YHWH, He delivers me. God moves heaven and earth to help those who trust Him and call on Him. He has drawn me out of deep waters, and put me in a safe and pleasant space. I cannot stand in my own righteousness, for I have none in myself. But I stand in the righteousness of Jesus my Savior. Christ is blameless before God, and I am covered by His spotless blood. God delivers the humble; He destroys the haughty. God brings light into my dungeon, and opens the door! YHWH is my God; He has helped me to stand. God makes my assailants sink beneath me. The Lord lives, and blessed is the Rock, the God of my salvation, Who shows His steadfast love to all the followers of David and His greater Son, Jesus.

God showed His glory to the people, as Moses and Aaron spoke to them: ‘I will feed you with meat and bread, and you will know that I Am YHWH, your God.’ God provided flocks of quail in the evening and manna, flaky and fine as hoar-frost, in the morning. Through His spokesmen, YHWH instructed the people: ‘Gather an omer for each person in your party,’ The people followed through, and each had enough. Moses also told them to leave none of the manna till the following day; those who ignored this found the old manna foul and filled with worms.

Peter writes: I urge you, my loved ones, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Keep good conduct among the Gentiles, so that those who would criticize you may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. For the Lord’s sake, be subject to every human authority. It is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as servants of God; honor all people; love your Christian brothers and sisters; fear God; honor the civil authorities. Subordinates, submit to those in authority over you with all respect—whether they are kind or overbearing. God approves those who patiently bear pain in suffering unjustly. There is no credit for patiently enduring deserved censure or punishment. Forbearance, even in undeserved trials, is our calling, because the Messiah suffered so for us, leaving us an example we should follow. He did not sin; He neither lied nor deceived anyone; when He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, Jesus trusted God Who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed! You were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.’

Jesus taught: ‘This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because servants don’t know their master’s business; but I have called you friends, for I have made known to you all that I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me; in fact, I chose you and appointed you to go and bear abiding fruit, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you. I repeat My command: love one another. If you find that the world hates you, be sure that it has hated Me first. If you were of the world, the world would love you; but because you are not of the world, the world hates you. Remember what I have told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; and if they kept My word, they will keep yours, also. All these things come to you because of Me, and because they do not know Him Who sent Me. If I had said nothing to them, they would incur no guilt; but now, they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates Me also hates My Father. If I had not done unparalleled works among them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen My good deeds, yet they hate both Me and My Father. All this actually fulfills what is written in their law: “They hated me without cause.” But when the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, comes, Whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will bear witness to Me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.’