Saturday, May 1, 2010
Devotions: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-17; Exod 40:18-38; 1 Thess 4:1-12; Mt 5:38-48
Lord, hear and answer my supplication; I am overcome by trouble and distracted by the dissonance of the adversary. My heart is in anguish; fear and trembling threaten to seize me. If I could, I’d run away; but I’ll stay and face this, with Your help. Destroy the plans of all my enemies, Lord; confuse their communication. Bring Babel upon them! Bring them down! I will trust in God, and YHWH will save me; God hears, God sees, God helps! I cast my burden on the Lord, and He will sustain me. I trust You, God! And I thank You with my whole heart, YHWH, and sing Your praise. You exalt above all else Your name and Your word. Great is YHWH’s glory, and all the kings of earth bow in praise! Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life, Lord. YHWH will fulfill His purpose for me; His steadfast love endures forever. Lord, do not forsake the work of Your hands! You know me in and out, all my choices, all my thoughts, all my actions. You know what I will say before I even think it. Your understanding is beyond my ken, great Lord. I cannot escape Your Spirit. You formed me in my mother’s womb; I praise You, Fearful and Wonderful Lord. How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God; how vast their scope and sum! I abide in You.
Moses erected the Tabernacle just as YHWH had instructed him, with all its furnishings precisely in place; Moses finished the work. Then God’s cloud covered the tent of meeting, and YHWH’s Shekinah filled the tabernacle. From that day, whenever the cloud arose from the tabernacle, the people would break camp and follow onward; if the cloud remained, the people stayed where they were. Throughout all their journeys, YHWH’s cloud was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the people of Israel.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: I plead and exhort you in the Lord Jesus: live as we taught you, to please God more and more. Your sanctification through the Lord Jesus is what God wills. Abstain from unchastity; take wives and husbands in holiness and honor, and shun the passion and lust of the ungodly. YHWH is an Avenger in these matters. He has called us for holiness, not for uncleanness. When I disregard these matters, I disobey God Who gives His Holy Spirit to me! And God has taught you to love one another—do so more and more! Aspire to live quietly, mind your own affairs, work with your hands, so as to command the respect of outsiders. Depend on no one but God alone.
Jesus taught: You have been taught to repay evil in kind: eye for eye, tooth for tooth. But I say to you, do not resist an evil one. If someone strikes your right cheek, offer him your left as well. If anyone sues you for your coat, give him your cloak, too. If anyone forces you to go one mile with him, go with him two miles! Give to anyone who begs from you; do not refuse one who asks to borrow from you. You were taught to love your neighbors and hate your enemies; but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In this, you act as children of your Father in heaven: He brings sunrise on evil and good alike; He sends rain to the just and the unjust. If you love only those who love you, what reward can you expect? Even the tax collectors do that. If you salute only your brothers and sisters, you do only what everyone does. Even the Gentiles do these things. No, you must be more: perfect, mature, as your heavenly Father Is perfect and complete.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Devotions: Ps 56, 57, 64, 65; Lev 16:1-22; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Mt 6:1-18
Lord, I need Your grace, for I am constantly assaulted by godless mortals. I put my trust in You, the Eternal One. I know that God is for me, and I am content. God will send from heaven and deliver me; He will put to shame those who seek to trample me. I abide in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. I sing and make melody before the Holy One. Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness stretches to the skies. Let Your glory shine over all the earth. God will bring to naught the plots of the wicked; with dread deeds of might YHWH saves us; He is Master! How the earth praises Her Maker and Master; let the pastures and the wilderness, the hills and valleys, the meadows and mountains deck themselves in bounty and sing together for joy.
YHWH gave Moses instructions for Aaron: Let Aaron not come into the Holiest Place often, least he die, for I appear in a cloud upon the mercy seat over the ark. When he comes, let Aaron bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Let him don the linen coat and breeches, the linen belt and turban. Let him bathe in water before putting these on. And let him also bring as sacrifice for the congregation two male goats for sin and one ram as a burnt offering. Aaron shall offer the bull as sin offering for himself. He will place the two goats at the entry to the tent of meeting and cast lots over them—one for YHWH, one for Azazel. YHWH’s goat will be sacrificed, but the goat for Azazel will be presented alive before YHWH for atonement, then sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. Aaron will present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and thus atone for himself and his household. He will take a censer of coals from the alter before YHWH, and two handfuls of sweet incense ground small; he will put these within the veil and put the incense on the fire, so that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat over the testimony, lest he die. He will sprinkle some of the blood of the bull on the front of the mercy seat, and he will sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Then, he will kill the goat of sin offering for the people; he will bring its blood within the veil and do as he did with the blood of the bull, on and before the mercy seat. Thus Aaron will atone for the uncleanness, sins and transgressions of the people of Israel, and for the tent of meeting in their midst. No other mortals may be in the tent of meeting from the moment Aaron enters to make atonement until after he has completed his priestly function and exited the tent. Then he will go out to the altar before YHWH and make atonement for it, using some of the blood of the bull and the goat, and put it on and before the mercy seat. Then, let Aaron present the live goat, and confess over it all the sins, iniquities and transgressions of the people; these he will put on the head of the goat, and a man selected for the purpose will lead the scapegoat into the wilderness and set it free there.
Paul writes the Thessalonians: I don’t want you to grieve like those who have no hope, concerning those who have fallen asleep: when the Lord comes, He will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and the sound of God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first; then, believers who are alive will be caught up together with the ressurrected into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Comfort one another with these words!
Jesus taught His followers: Don’t practice piety in public so mortals see you, for then your heavenly Father will not reward you further. When you give alms, avoid the public show practiced by the hypocrites, for the notice they receive is their only reward. Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, when you give alms; let your charity be secret, and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. When you fast, keep it quiet; don’t disfigure yourself like the hypocrites; the notice they get from others is their only reward. Instead, when you fast, dress and groom yourself well, so that only God knows you are fasting, and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Devotions: Ps 61, 62, 68; Lev 16:20-34; 1 Thess 5:1-11; Mt 6:7-15
Lord, listen to my cries, and answer. Lead me to Your stronghold, and let me abide in Your presence forever. I will praise you forever. My soul waits, only for God. My hope is in You alone, Lord! I will trust You at all times, in all circumstances. Let God arise and scatter His enemies! Let them fade like smoke in a hurricane. YHWH is Father of the orphan, Protector of widows. He provides home to the desolate and prosperity to the destitute, while the rebellious, He settles in a parched land. YHWH Is Master; blessed is the God Who daily lifts us up, our Savior, the Lord! Ascribe power to YHWH, terrible in His sanctuary; blessed be God!
God’s instructions for the Day of Atonement continue: Have Aaron present the live goat, and confess over it all the sins, iniquities and transgressions of the people; these he will put on the head of the goat, and a man selected for the purpose will lead the scapegoat into the wilderness and set it free there. Then Aaron will enter the tent of meeting, take off the linen garments, bathe in water, dress, and come forth. Next, he will offer his burnt offering and that of the people and make atonement for himself and the people. He will burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. Likewise, the man who leads the scapegoat out to Azazel will wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and then he may re-enter the camp. The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, will be carried outside the camp, and their skin, flesh and dung will be burned in fire. Then the man who burns them will wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and then he may re-enter the camp. Let it be an everlasting statute that on the tenth day of the seventh month, you will mourn, and no one will work—neither the native nor the sojourner among you. For this will be the Day of Atonement to cleanse you from all your sins before the Lord. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you must afflict yourselves—an eternal statute. The priest who is anointed and consecrated in the line of Aaron will make atonement, wearing the holy garments—for the sanctuary, for the tent of meeting, for the altar, for the priests, and for all the people of the assembly. This is an everlasting statute for an annual day of atonement for the people of Israel, because of all their sins. Moses did all that YHWH commanded.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: You don’t need any further instructions as to times and seasons. You know well that the Lord’s Day will come like a thief in the night. But you should not be surprised—you are sons of the day and of the light. So let us abide awake and sober—sloth and drunkenness equate with darkness and night. Since we belong to the day, let us remain sober; let us put on the breastplate of faith and love, and hope of salvation as a helmet. God has not destined us for wrath, but for salvation through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, Who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep, alive or deceased, we might live with Him. So encourage one another and build each other up!
Jesus taught His followers: When you pray: go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father Who is in secret, and He will reward you. You needn’t heap up phrases in prayer, as the Gentiles do, thinking that their prayers will be preferred because they are wordy. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. So pray like this: ‘Our Father Who Is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; forgive our debts as we have forgiven our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ If you forgive others, your heavenly Father will forgive you; if you don’t forgive mortals, neither will your Father forgive you.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Devotions: Ps 72, 119:73-96; Lev 19:1-18; 1 Thess 5:12-28; Mt 6:19-24
Lord God, give Your justice and righteousness to Your Son. May He rule the earth forever, and bless creation! Let His dominion extend to the ends of the earth, and all earth’s kings bow to Him. Blessed is YHWH, God of Israel; may His glory fill the whole earth. Lord, You made me and You own me; teach me to understand and obey Your laws. Comfort me with Your steadfast love, and use my afflictions and trials to fit me for Your glory. Help me do away with everything that offends You, L ord. Work full salvation in me and in my life; bring Your covenant to fulfillment! Some days, I wonder if I’ll make it through, but I have not forsaken You or Your precepts, and I know You are faithful to me, Lord. So I am Yours forever; save me for Your honor and service.
YHWH instructed Israel: Be holy as I, the Lord Your God, Am holy. Honor your parents and keep My Sabbaths. Shun idols and make none. I Am YHWH, Your God! When you offer a peace offering, consume it the same day, or the next. Anything remaining to a third day must be burned—it has become a profanation. When you reap, leave some grain at the borders, and do not glean after the harvest. In your vineyards, don’t strip the vines or pick up the fallen fruit. Leave the gleanings for the poor and the sojourners: I Am YHWH, Your God. Do not steal, or deceive, or lie to one another. Do not swear falsely by My Name; this is profane. I Am YHWH! Do not oppress or rob your neighbor. Pay your hired help on the same day. Do not trouble the deaf or the blind; rather, fear your God. I Am YHWH! Do no injustice through false judgments; show no partiality to either rich or poor. Do not slander anyone, nor threaten the lives of your neighbor; I AM YHWH. Do not hate your brother in your heart; rather, reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. Take no vengeance and bear no grudges against your own people; rather, love your neighbor as yourself: I Am YHWH.
Paul writes to the Thessalonians: Brothers and sisters, respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Esteem them highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. We exhort you to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Rejoice always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances—for this is God’s will in the Messiah Jesus for you. Do not quench the Holy Spirit; respect prophecy, but test everything and hold on to what is proved good, and abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly. May your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. He Who calls you is faithful, and He will do it! Pray for us; greet all the Christians with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters. May the grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with you.
Jesus taught: Do not lay up treasures on earth, where pests can destroy it or thieves steal it; instead, store up treasure in heaven, where it will last and be secure. Where your treasure is, your heart will also be. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; and if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be filled with darkness—very great darkness. No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or love the one and hate the other; you cannot serve both God and Mammon.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Devotions: Ps 71, 74; Lev 19:26-37; 2 Thess 1:1-12; Mt 6:25-34
Lord, I take refuge in You; let me not be put to shame. Rescue me from wickedness, within and around me. I trust You alone, and want to be close to Your forever. Increase my honor and comfort me again, Lord, and I will speak of Your righteous help all day long, when they who sought to hurt me have been put to shame and disgrace.
YHWH directed Israel: Eat no meat with blood in it. Do not practice augury or witchcraft. Do not round off the hear on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. Do not cut or tattoo your own flesh: I Am YHWH. Do not let your daughter become a harlot, lest the whole land sink into harlotry and be filled with wickedness. Keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I AM YHWH. Shun mediums and wizards, lest they defile you. I AM YHWH your God. Rise before an aged person and honor the faces of the elderly; this also honors your God; I Am YHWH. Treat the sojourners among you fairly; love him as yourself, and as a citizen of your community: for you yourselves were strangers in Egypt. I Am YHWH your God. Use fair weights and measures: I Am YHWH your God, Who brought you out of Egypt. Observe all My statutes and ordinances, and do them! I Am YHWH.
Paul, Silas and Timothy wrote a second letter to the Christians in Thessalonika, ‘in God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. We are constrained to give thanks for you always, as your faith grows abundantly and your love for one another is increasing. We boast about you to the churches of God, mentioning your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. All this speaks of the righteous judgment of God, Who is making you worthy of His kingdom through the afflictions of your opponents. He will grant you blessed rest, along with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angles in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction.
Jesus taught: Don’t be anxious about your life, or what you’ll eat or drink, nor about your body or clothing. Life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. Consider the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap, yet your Father in heaven feeds them, and you are worth much more than the birds to Him. So why worry about clothing? Consider the flowers of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet even Solomon at his most glorious was not arrayed like one of these. So: if God clothes the grass of the field in this way, which lives for a day then is cast onto the fire, how much more will He clothe you, bearing His image—have faith! Don’t be anxious; don’t worry about what you will eat or drink or wear. The Gentiles bustle after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Devotions: Ps 106; Lev 23:1-22; 2 Thess 2:1-17; Mt 7:1-12
Let us praise YHWH, for He is good; His steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever. Lord, remember me when You show favor to Your people. I am a sinner from a sinful race; but You have shown mercy throughout the millennia. The people You favor are quick to forget You when You bless them; history records that pattern over and over. But You always bless those who hold fast to You, and I am determined to do that, Lord. Take Your wrath from me; save me, O Lord my God, and draw me closer to You. Blessed is YHWH, God of Israel, Lord of the Church. Praise the Lord!
YHWH told Moses: ‘Say to Israel: Keep the Lord’s appointed feasts as holy convocations. First, the Sabbath: work six days, but observe solemn rest on the seventh day. At evening on the fourteenth day of the first month is YHWH’s Passover. And on the next day begins the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. No work and a solemn assembly on the first day of the feast; present an offering to YHWH by fire each day of the feast; and on the seventh day, another holy convocation and no laborious work. When you harvest the Land God will provide, bring the sheaf of the first fruits to the priest of YHWH on the first day after the Sabbath; he will wave the sheaf before YHWH, that you may find acceptance from God. With the wave offering, offer a burnt offering of a spotless male lamb a year old, with two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and a fourth-hin of wine. Eat no bread or grain until this same day, until you have brought the offering for your God. This is an everlasting statute. From the day after the Sabbath, count seven full weeks, fifty days to the day after the Sabbath; then present a cereal offering of new grain to YHWH. From your dwellings, bring two loaves to be waved, made from two tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven. With the bread, present seven flawless year-old lambs, one young bull, and two rams; they will be a burnt offering to YHWH, with their cereal offerings and drink offerings, by fire—a pleasing aroma to YHWH. Offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a peace offering. The priest will wave them with the bread of the first fruits as a wave offering, with the two lambs. They are consecrated to the Lord for the priest. Make proclamation on the same day; hold a holy convocation; do no laborious work—all this is an everlasting statute for you. When you reap the harvest, leave grain at the borders, and do not gather the gleanings—leave these for the poor and for the stranger: I Am YHWH your God.’
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: Don’t let yourselves be easily shaken or excited about the visitation of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, or our gathering to meet Him, to the effect that the Day has already come. Let no one deceive you in that way; that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes a seat in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. I told you this when I was with you—don’t you remember? You know what is restraining him. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work; the One Who restrains it will do so until He is taken out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and will destroy him by His appearing and coming. The coming of the lawless one by Satan’s activity will be with power and with counterfeit signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception misleading those who are to perish because they refused to love the truth and thus be saved. Therefore, God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and to believe the truth. To this God called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. So stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught by us, face to face or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus the Messiah Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and good word.
Jesus taught: Judge not, that you be not judged! You will be judged by the judgments you pronounce, and the measure you give, you will get. Why notice a speck in your brother’s eye and overlook a log in your own? How can you offer to remove the speck from his eye when there is a log in your own? Hypocrite! First remove the log from your own eye; then you can see clearly to take the speck from your brother’s eye. Don’t give holy things to dogs or case your pearls to swine, lest they trample them under foot, then turn and attack you. Ask, and what you ask will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and whoever seeks finds; and to whoever knocks it will be opened. None of you, if asked by your son for bread, will give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake. So, if you who are wicked know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Whatever you wish people would do to you, do so to them; for this summarizes the law and the prophets.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Devotions: Ps 23, 27, 75, 76; Lev 23:23-44; 2 Thess 3:1-18; Mt 7:13-21
YHWH is my Shepherd, and I am blessed. He gives me rest, refreshment, healing and integrity from God, for His name’s sake. Even when I face death, I fear no evil, for You, Lord, are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me; You prepare a feast for me, right in front of my enemies; You anoint me with Your Spirit; my fortunes overflow. Surely goodness and love will pursue me all my days, and I will live in God’s house forever! YHWH is my Light and my Salvation, my Stronghold—I have no reason for fear or anxiety. My enemies will do their worst, and then stumble and fall. I ask only to live always in God’s presence, to see His beauty and seek His wisdom. I will offer in God’s tabernacle shouts and songs of praise to YHWH. I see Your face, O Lord; satisfy me with Your Spirit; teach me Your ways and guide me in right paths for Your sake. I wait for You, Abba. Give me strength and courage to abide and trust You! I will testify for You, Lord, as You judge the earth with equity. I leave such matters to God, while I praise and serve Him with all my might and all my mind and heart. I will meditate on God and trust Him; I will remember His kindness and might in past crises, and gird my heart for the present challenges. Lord, Your way is holy; You are the Wonder-worker, the Almighty One. You are the Great Shepherd of Your people, and I, too, am Yours.
YHWH instructed Moses in what he should say to the people of Israel: On the first day of the seventh month, you will observe a solemn day of rest, a memorial heralded by trumpets, a holy convocation—no work, and offerings by fire to the Lord. The tenth day of the seventh month is Yom Kippur, a day of atonement; no work; a day of reflection and sacrifice for your sins. It will be a solemn day of reflection and rest; begin at sunset on the ninth day, through the tenth day to sunset. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, begin a seven-day Feast of Booths. The first day will be a holy convocation, and no work. For seven days, you will present offerings to YHWH by fire; and again on the eighth day, hold a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the Lord—a solemn assembly with no laborious work. These feasts are in addition to the weekly Sabbath. During the Feast of Booths, take the fruit of goodly trees, and branches of palms, leafy trees and willows, and rejoice before the Lord for seven days—an everlasting ordinance. All in Israel shall live in booths for seven days, so that each generation may come to know that Israel lived so when I delivered you from Egypt. I Am YHWH your God. And Moses told Israel all these things.
Paul concludes his second letter to the church in Thessalonika: Pray for us, that we speed God’s word on its way as we did with you, and that we be protected and delivered from wicked and evil men. Humans are fickle, but God is faithful; He will strengthen and protect you. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and the steadfastness of the Messiah. In His name, we command you to keep away from any brothers or sisters who live in idleness, and not in the Christian traditions we passed along to you. We were active among you; we didn’t take charity from anyone, but worked day and night, so that we were not a burden. This was an example you should follow. If anyone will not work, he should not eat. We hear that some among you live as idle busybodies. These we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus the Messiah to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Don’t become weary in doing good. If anyone ignores what I have written, take note and have nothing to do with that person, so that he or she may be ashamed. Such people are not enemies, but need to be warned in brotherly love. May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in all ways: may the Lord and His grace be with you all.
Jesus taught His followers: ‘Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the path is easy that lead to destruction, and many go that way. But the gate is narrow and the way is hard that lead to life, and only a few find and follow it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you professing kindness, but inwardly are ravening wolves; you can identify them by their fruits. You can’t get grapes from a thorn or figs from a thistle! Every sound tree bears good fruit, and every bad tree bears evil fruit. Whoever is not fruitful before God will be cut down and cast into the fire. Again: judge professed leaders by their fruit. Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord!’ to me will enter God’s kingdom; those who will enter are the ones who do My heavenly Father’s will. On the final Day, many will call to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do miracles in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’ Everyone who hears My words and obeys them will be like a wise man who built his house on bedrock; when the rains fell and floods came and the winds beat on that house, it stood, because it was founded on bedrock. But whoever hears My words and ignores them will be like one who builds on sand; when the storms, floods and tempests come, that house will fall with a great crash, profoundly destroyed.’ The hearers were astonished at Jesus’ teaching, for He taught with authority not found in their own theological scribes.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Devotions: Ps 77, 80; Lev 25:35-55; Col 1:9-20; Mt 13:1-16
Lord, I am starving for You! Forgive, heal, and bless me in Your word, I pray. When I reflect in the watches of night, I groan under the recollection of my sins and follies past, and their present consequences. God, don’t spurn me forever; I grieve over my separation from You, and long for You! Your way, my God, is holy; You work wonders, and redeem Your people. How well you bless and lead Your people. This I crave, my God! Let Your face shine on me; restore me, O God of hosts! I am ravaged by the boar of the forest; feral pigs attack me. Turn again to me, my Lord, as I turn again to You. Give me life as I call on Your name, YHWH. Restore me, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that I may be saved. Help me value Your favor more than the help of secular authorities!
God was teaching Israel to be a godly community: If your brother is impoverished and cannot maintain himself, take him in and care for him. Take no interest or profit from him; rather, fear God and help your brother live! I Am YHWH your God, Who brought you out of Egypt to give you Canaan, and to be your God. If your brother indentures himself to you, treat him as an employee, not as a slave. He will serve till the year of Jubilee—not more than seven years—and then you will set him free and return him and his family to his patrimony. You may trade in Gentile slaves and pass them along as chattels to your heirs; but you will not make slaves of the members of God’s community, or rule harshly over one another. If a stranger or sojourner among you becomes rich and owns a member of the family of Israel, he may be redeemed by his own brothers or kinsman. The price of his release will be based on the number of years from his indenture until the Jubilee. And if he is never redeemed, still he must be released in the year of Jubilee, with all his descendants. The people of Israel are Mine; they cannot be owned in perpetuity by another! I AM YHWH your God.
Paul writes to Colosse: We continue daily to pray that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus is the perfect icon of the invisible Father; He is firstborn over all creation. In Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—yes, all things were created through Him and for Him. Jesus is before all things, and in Him all things cohere. He is the Head of the body, the church; He is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything Jesus might be pre-eminent. In Jesus the fullness of God is pleased to dwell; and through Him God reconciles to Himself all things in earth and in heaven, making peace by means of the blood of His cross.
Jesus sat beside the sea at Capernaum, and great crowds thronged to Him. He got into a boat and sat there, with the crowd on the beach; and He taught them many things, using parables. ‘A sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds devoured them. Other seeds fell on shallow, rocky ground; they sprang up immediately, but when the sun rose, they were scorched and withered away, lacking roots and moisture. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the weeds choked them out. And other seeds fell on good soil, and brought forth a harvest of grain, some one hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty. Let whoever can hear do so, and understand!’ His disciples came to Jesus and asked why He taught in parables. He answered, ‘Understanding the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has such riches will receive even more; he will have abundance. But from those who have little or nothing concerning the kingdom, even the pittance they have will be taken from them. This is the reason I speak to them in parables, because though seeing, they do not perceive, and though they hear, they do not understand. This fulfills among them the prophecy of Isaiah, “You shall indeed hear by not understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should perceive by sight and hear with their ears and understand with their heart, and turn for Me to heal them.” But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.’
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Devotions: Ps 78; Lev 26:1-20; 1 Tim 2:1-6; Mt 13:18-23
Asaph wrote: Let my people listen, and I will tell of the glorious deeds of YHWH. He established His testimony in Jacob; He gave His law to Israel, His commands to our ancestors and they passed them along to us. But we were not perfect in obedience. Ephraim fell back on a day of battle and continued to test God by disobedience. All the people grumbled against YHWH during their time in the wilderness, but He continued faithfully to provide water, shelter, guidance, and bread and meat aplenty, even in the desert. They were not steadfast, but God was compassionate and forgave their iniquity. He intimidated Egypt, both its gods and its king, but the people of Israel also rebelled and tested God, and He judged them. Eventually, He utterly rejected the tribes of Israel, forsaking His shrine at Shiloh. He rejected the descendants of Joseph, and chose instead the tribe of Judah; He chose David to be His servant, and brought him from tending his father’s flocks to ruling over God’s people from Jerusalem, and God took up His earthly sanctuary on Mount Zion, while David and his descendants ruled the people of Judah.
God commanded: Make no idols, no stone or graven images; I Am YHWH your God. Keep My Sabbaths and revere My sanctuary. I Am YHWH. Keep My commands and I will give you the rains you need and prosper your land—its fields and trees will yield their fruits; you’ll have bread and wine and oil, flocks and herds that prosper. And I will give you peace in the Land I have promised and provided. None will threaten you. You will easily defeat your enemies: five of you will chase away a hundred; a hundred of you will defeat ten thousand, and they will fall to your weapons. I will confirm My covenant with you and prosper you! I will make My home in your midst, and you will be My people. I Am YHWH your God, Who brought you out of Egypt and slavery; I have broken your yoke and set you free. But if you will not obey Me and do My commands, if you will spurn My statutes and break My covenant, I will do this: I will appoint sudden terror against you, consumption, fever that blinds you and drains away your very life. You will sow in vain, for enemies will reap what you plant; they will strike you down; you’ll quake with fear even when no one is attacking you. If this doesn’t bring you back to Me, I will chastise you sevenfold for your sins; I will break your pride and drain off your power; I will turn your skies to iron and your earth to brass—no rain, no crops, no fruit.
Paul counseled Timothy: Let supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanks be given for all mortals—for kings and those in exalted position, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and altogether respectful. This pleases God our Savior, Who wants all to be saved and to know the truth. There is only one God; and there is only one Mediator between God and mortals, the man Jesus the Messiah, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, as was testified at the proper time.
Jesus taught His disciples: ‘Hear the parable of the sower and the seeds. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart; this corresponds to the seed cast along the path. As for what was sown on shallow, rocky soil, this is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, but since he has no depth, no root in his faith, he endures for a while, but when tribulation or persecution arises on account of his profession of faith, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this corresponds to those who hear the word, but he cares of the world and the delight in riches supplant and choke out the word in them, and it proves unfruitful. And as for what was sown in good soil, this represents those who hear and understand the word and persevere in believing. Among these, some yield a hundredfold, some sixty times and some thirty times what was sown in them.’
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Devotions: Ps 119:97-120; Lev 26:27-42; Eph 1:1-10; Mt 22:41-46
Lord, I love Your law. Knowing Your word makes me wiser than my enemies, and helps me avoid sins and errors along my way. Your word lights my path and guides my progress. Accept my praise, great Lord, and protect me from all enemies. I put my heart and my hands in Your service. You are my Hiding Place and my Shield; uphold me according to Your promise, I pray. I am in awe of You, Lord!
God counseled Israel through Moses: If you do not obey Me, I will walk contrary to you; you’ll be reduced to cannibalism; you’ll lose your holy places, and I will lay your cities waste and shun your sacrifices. I will devastate the land and scatter you among the pagan nations. This is a horrible way for the land to get its Sabbath rest! Those remaining in the land will be timid and fearful, and the exiles will be absorbed into the populations of foreign places, and will disappear. But if you confess your iniquities, and humble your hearts and seek to amend your ways, I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and with Isaac, and with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
Paul, apostle of the Messiah Jesus by God’s will, addresses the faithful saints in the Messiah Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Blessed is God the Father of our Lord the Messiah Jesus, Who has blessed us in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be blameless and holy before Him. In love, He destined us to be his own sons and daughters through the Messiah Jesus, according to the purpose of His will and to the praise of His glorious grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He has lavished upon us. He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in the Messiah as a plan for the fullness of time, to unit all things in Him—things in heaven and on earth.
Jesus challenged the gathered Pharisees in Jerusalem: ‘What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he.’ They answered, ‘He is David’s son.’ Jesus replied, ‘How then is it that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls the Messiah his Lord, when he writes, “YHWH said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet?’” If David thus calls the Messiah his Lord, how can He be David’s son?’ No one could answer Jesus, and from that moment, no one dared to challenge Him with any further questions.
Thursday, May 13, 2010 – Ascension Day
Devotions: Ps 8, 24, 47, 96; Dan 7:9-14; Heb 2:5-18; Mt 28:16-20
YHWH our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the universe! They chant Your glory in heaven, and all nature and every tiny baby and child also call out Your praise. When I contemplate the heavens, the moon and stars You put in place, I am awed: what is humanity that you are mindful of us? Why do you look after the sons and daughters of humankind? But You do! You made us little lower than angels; You crown us with glory and honor; You give us dominion over the works of Your hands; You put all things under our feet. We are stewards of Your creation, under the authority of Your Son, our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
Who can ascend God’s holy hill? The One Whose hands are clean, Whose heart is pure, Who does not testify falsely. He is blessed by His Father, Who vindicates Him by resurrection from death. Let every portal be opened to the King of glory; bring in our Lord, strong and mighty, generous and kind. YHWH Sabaoth is the King of glory! Let all the peoples shout acclamation to the Lord Most High: He is risen! He reigns! Let us sing to Him a new song, and bless His name. Tell of His might and goodness everywhere. He is the Living One; all other gods are idols. Honor and majesty, strength and beauty are among His crowns. Worship Him in holiness, and tremble before His might and purity! YHWH reigns: let all creation, heavens and earth, be glad and worship our Lord, Who comes to judge the world and His people in righteousness and truth.
In Daniel’s vision, the Ancient of Days took His fiery throne and myriads served Him, and the books of judgment were opened, and the final events were revealed: the beast was slain and its body burned; the dominion of demons was ended and they were remanded to custody for a time. Finally, came one ‘like a son of man.’ He came before the Ancient of Days, and received dominion and glory and kingdom, and all peoples, all nations and all language groups served Him. His dominion is everlasting; His kingdom will never be destroyed.
God has subjected the world to come to His Son: Jesus was made lower than the angels for a little time, and then He was raised to God’s right hand, crowned with glory and honor because of His submission to death, so that by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone! It is fitting that He, for Whom and by Whom all things exist, as He brings many sons and daughters to glory, should make the Pioneer of our salvation perfect through suffering. He Who sanctifies and we who are sanctified have one origin. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. He brings us home to God has His children, His flock. He took on flesh and blood; He put on mortality with us, so that through death He destroyed the one who has the power of death: the devil, the destroyer. And Jesus has delivered all who fear death from that bondage—all the descendants of Abraham, whether by flesh or by spirit. Jesus had to be made like His human brothers and sisters in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in God’s service, making expiation for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is now able to help all who are being tempted. Glory to You, Lord Christ!
Matthew writes of Jesus’ last words to His disciples: The Eleven went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him there, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you; and surely I Am with you always, to the very end of the age.’
Friday, May 14, 2010
Devotions: Ps 85, 86, 91, 92; 1 Sam 2:1-10; Eph 2:1-10; Mt 7:22-27
YHWH, You have favored Your people and forgiven us our sins. Restore us again, God of our salvation, and set aside Your indignation. Show us You steadfast love and faithfulness. Let me hear and obey what God the Lord will speak; let me receive the peace He offers to those who obey Him. Let our faith rise to grett Your love and faithfulness; let Your righteousness be poured forth on us, and guide us today. Gladden my soul, great Lord, for I am Your servant, and You are good and forgiving. Lord, listen and answer to my cry of supplication. Teach me Your way, YHWH, that I may walk in Your truth; I will glorify Your name forever. For your steadfast love is great, and You have delivered me from eternal death. I face the wrath of insolent mortals, but You, YHWH, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Show me a sign of Your favor, that those who hate me may be put to shame because God is with me. We who live in the shelter of the Most High abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Who blesses and protects us. I will fear no evil, for God is with me. And when He calls me, I will answer; God will protect me and rescue me and honor me with long life and eternal salvation. Glory to my God! It is good to thank You, Lord. You have made me glad by the work of Your hands; You bless me and bring down the wicked. Let me flourish in my old age, to Your praise, my God.
Hannah was blessed with a son after years of barrenness. And she prayed: My heart exults in YHWH, Who gives me strength. There is none holy as YHWH; I rejoice in His salvation. He breaks the bows of the arrogant, but strengthens the feeble. He feeds the hungry and brings children to the barren. YHWH gives life and takes life; He brings low and exalts. All creation belongs to our God. He is King and Judge, and I rejoice in His power and goodness, God’s holy love!
Paul wrote: God made you alive when you were dead in trespasses and sins, following the prince of the power of the air, the evil spirit now at work among the sons of disobedience. We were among them for a time, following the desires of body and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath. But God, Who is rich in mercy, out of the great love He bears us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with the Messiah. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. He raised us up with Jesus, and made us sit with Him in the heavenlies in the Messiah Jesus, so that in coming ages, God will show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in the Messiah Jesus. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God; you are not saved by works, lest anyone should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in the Messiah Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us, so that by and in His grace, we continue to do those good works.
Jesus spoke to His listeners about the day of judgment: ‘On that day, many will say to me “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?” And I will reply, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers.” Every one who hears My words and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on bedrock; the rains fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it withstood the storms because it was founded on the rock. But those who hear My words and do not act accordingly will be like a fool who built his house on sand—and when the rains and floods and winds came against that house, it fell and was destroyed.’
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Devotions: Ps 87, 90, 136; Num 11:16-29; Eph 2:11-22; Mt 7:28-8:4
God loves Jerusalem, and those born there are especially blessed to come from the fountainhead of song and dance. Moses prayed: YHWH, You have been our dwelling place for generations; You are the Everlasting God. A thousand days is like a moment to You; we are like dream specters, grass that lives for a day, then fades and withers. We cannot abide Your wrath over our sins. Lord, make me glad for as many days as I have suffered Your judgment and affliction. Let Your work be manifest to Your servants; show Your glory and power to Your children, and establish also the work of our hands. Give thanks to YHWH, for His steadfast love endures forever. God, how I thank You: for miracles, for sky and earth, for the sun, moon and stars, for Your sovereign deliverance of Your people, for Your acts of power in asserting Your authority over Egypt and her government and gods, and over the Amorites and the other peoples driven out to make space for the children of Israel. He remembers us in our low estate. He feeds all living beings. Let all that breathes give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.
YHWH directed Moses to gather 70 elders representing all the tribes of Israel. God put His Spirit in these elders to assist Moses in leading and judging the people. Then, God confronted the grumbling people over their complaints concerning meat: He told them He would provide so much meat that they would grow sick of it. Even Moses doubted this, but God assured him, and Moses conveyed the message to the people, and did what God had commanded. Two men, Eldad and Medad, though they remained in the camp while God was commissioning the other elders, began to prophesy, as did those on whom God’s Spirit had fallen. Moses’ assistance asked Moses to forbid the two, but Moses said he wished all God’s people were prophets, that YHWH’s Spirit would rest on everyone.
Paul wrote: remember that you Gentile believers, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by Jews and Jewish Christians, were separated from the Messiah, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, hopeless and without God in the world! But now, in the Messiah Jesus, you who used to be far off have been brought into God’s family in the Messiah’s blood. He is our Peace, Who has made us one and had broken down the divisions and hostility. How? By abolishing in His flesh the law of commands and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace; and that He might reconcile us, Jews and Gentiles alike, to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for hin Him we both have3 access in one Spirit to the Father. So: you are no longer strangers and sojourners; no, you are now fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with the Messiah Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are built into it to constitute a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Jesus amazed His listeners, because He taught with an authority not found in the Jewish scribes of His day. When He came down from the mountain, great crowds followed Him. And a leper came and knelt before Jesus, saying ‘Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.’ Jesus stretched out His hand and touched the leprous man, saying ‘I will; be clean.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed away. Jesus said to the man, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded—do all this as a proof to the people.’
Monday, May 17, 2010
Devotions: Ps 89; Josh 1:1-9; Eph 3:1-13; Mt 8:5-17
Ethan the Ezrahite wrote: YHWH, I will sing of Your steadfast love forever, proclaiming you faithfulness to all generations. You have cut covenant with David and his house forever. Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O YHWH. There is no other heavenly being to compare with You. All the universe is Yours, and Your throne is founded on righteousness and justice. Blessed are all who celebrate You, the glory of our strength. You anointed David and his line forever, and kept them in Your love. Despite their recurring sins and folly, You did not remove Your steadfast love from the line of David. You kept Your word, until their sins became unbearable, and You cut them off for a time. But in the fullness of time, You sent Your Son through David’s line, to fulfill all that was promised. Blessed be YHWH for ever!
After Moses died, YHWH directed Joshua to lead Israel over the Jordan into the land YHWH was giving to them, from the wilderness and Lebanon to the river Euphrates, and the land of the Hittites down to the Mediterranean. God promised Joshua: ‘I will not fail or forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for you will cause this people to inherit th eland I swore to their fathers. Be careful to do all the law which My servant Moses commanded you. Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Haven’t I commanded you? So be strong and courageous—never afraid or dismayed, for YHWH your God is with you wherever you go.’
Paul wrote: I am God’s prisoner on behalf of you Gentiles. I am steward of God’s grace and insight into the mystery of the Messiah, which God withheld from men of other generations. He has now revealed it to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit—that Gentiles are now fellow heirs and members of the same body, and partakers in the promise of the Messiah Jesus through the gospel. I was made minister of this message through the gift of God’s grace, given me by the working of His power. Though I am the least of all the saints, God gave me this grace, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of the Messiah, and to make all people see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, Who created all things: that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known before the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This fulfills the eternal purpose God has realized in the Messiah Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in Him. I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you—actually, this is your glory!
As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion met Him with a petition: ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed athome, in terrible distress.’ Jesus answered, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. I am a man under authority, and have soldiers under me. I tell one to go, another to come, and they obey me; I tell my slave, “do this,” and he does what I tell him.’ Jesus marveled to hear this; He said to His companions, ‘I tell you most truly, I have not found faith like this, even in Israel. I tell you: many Gentiles will come from the farthest East and West and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness where men will wail and gnash their teeth.’ And then He addressed the centurion: ‘Go; be it done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Tuesday and Wednesday, May 18 and 19, 2010
Devotions: Ps 94, 97, 99, 101, 109, 119:121-44; 1 Sam 16:1-13a; Isa 4:2-6; Eph 3:14-4:16; Mt 8:18-34
Mighty God of vengeance, shine forth! Bring Your wrath and judgment on those who boast of evil, who crush Your people and afflict Your heritage. Listen, fools: God Who made eyes and ears can see and hear! He chastens nations, so He can chastise individuals. Blessed are they whom God disciplines, for He is faithful and guides the upright. If YHWH had not helped me, I would soon have perished. Lord, when my cares are many, Your consolations cheer me. YHWH is my Rock, and He wipes out the wicked. YHWH reigns; let all the earth rejoice. God is surrounded by fire, lauded by heaven and earth; He preserves the lives of His saints. Let all the righteous praise our God and give thanks in His holy name. Mighty is our God! Let us extol YHWH our God and worship at His feet, for He is holy! I will cleave to my God; I will walk with integrity in my house; I will not set anything base before my eyes—that is often the first step in sinning! I will set perversity of heart far from me; morning by morning, I will set aside wickedness and clear my heart for God and His service. Let God’s enemies be destroyed and may their plots and curses turn back on them. But let YHWH deal on my behalf for His name’s sake. Help me, YHWH my God, according to Your steadfast love. Make Your servant glad and punish our enemies. I will praise God with my words, and serve Him with my deeds, Who saves me from death. How I long to see You, Lord, and Your salvation! Give me understanding to keep Your testimonies, to love Your commands, and to hate every falsehood. Keep my steps steady and give me the understanding I need to live under Your protection and guidance.
YHWH directed Samuel to anoint a new king to replace Saul. God sent the prophet to the household of Jesse of Bethlehem, with the expressed intention of making a sacrifice. As God directed, Samuel invited Jesse and his sons and consecrated them to attend the sacrifice. One by one, from the eldest down, Jesse’s sons came before Samuel, but when seven had passed, God has still not spoken. So Samuel inquired, and Jesse said he had one more son, the youngest, who was tending the household’s flocks. Samuel directed that they send for the youth, and when David appeared, God told Samuel, ‘He’s the one. Anoint him.’ And the prophet did as God directed him. Upon David’s anointing, the Holy Spirit came on David, and would abide with him thereafter. And Samuel, his mission completed, got up and went to Ramah.
In God’s Day, the righteous Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and Israel’s survivors will glory in the fruitfulness of the holy land. God will wash the community clean, and the community will abide in a spirit of judgment and burning. And God will create a cloud of holiness and protection over Mount Zion and her assemblies—a shade from the heat of day, a refuge from storms and rain.
Paul prays for believers: I bow my knees to the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its identity, and I pray that out of His glorious riches He will strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, that the Messiah may abide in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him Who is able to do fare more abundantly than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in the Messiah Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen! And I, Paul, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to live lives worthy of your calling, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unit of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope in your one calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, Who is above all and through all and in all. Yet grace was given to each of us according the measure of the Messiah’s unique gift. For this reason it was written, ‘When He ascended on high, He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.’ This shows, too, that He descended to the lowest places of the earth. He Who descended is He Who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—to mature humanity, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Messiah—so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, and by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way, into Him Who is the Head, into the Messiah, joined and knit together by every joint supplied, when each part is working properly, constituting bodily growth and edifying itself in love.
Jesus observed great crowds around Him, so He directed His followers to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A scribe approached and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay His head.’ Another disciple said, ‘Lord let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow Me, and leave the dead to bury the dead.’ When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. As they embarked, a great storm arose on the sea; the boat was being swamped by the waves, while Jesus slept. His companions woke Jesus, saying ‘Save, Lord! We are perishing!’ And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, men of little faith?’ And Jesus rose and rebuked the winds and the sea—and there was great calm. The witnesses marveled: ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?’ When they came to the other side of the lake, in the region of Gadara, they were met by two demoniacs. They came out from the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass by that way. The two cried out, ‘What have You come to do with us, O Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’ A herd of many swine was feeding in the distance, and the demons begged Jesus, ‘If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.’ He said to them, ‘Go!’ So they demons left the two men and went into the pigs; and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled into Gadara, and told everything they had witnessed. All the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their neighborhood.’
Thursday and Friday, May 20 and 21, 2010
Devotions: Ps 105, 107; Zech 4:1-14; Jer 32:27-34; Eph 4:17-5:20; Mt 9:1-17
Let us thank God and call on His name; give glory to our God! Let those who seek YHWH rejoice, and seek Him continually. He is our God, mindful of His covenant, keeping His word. When the descendants of Abraham were few, God protected them in their sojourning. When He brought famine, He had already sent Joseph to Egypt and prepared a way of escape from hunger and death. God brought Israel into Egypt, and prospered His people there. When they were oppressed, God sent Moses as He had previously sent Joseph, and brought His people out of bondage, humbling Pharaoh and the ‘gods’ of Egypt with horrible plagues and the judgment of death to their firstborn. God guided the people and kept them fed and watered through forty years in the wilderness, and brought them into the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Let all His people praise YHWH! He is good, and His steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever. He delivers the pilgrims and prisoners, the slaves and the sick, the seaborne and the storm-tossed. He makes streams in the desert and prospers the poor who trust in Him. Let us consider God’s steadfast love!
In a vision, Zechariah had a vision and a discussion with God’s angel: A golden lampstand with seven lamps, between two olive trees—and a word to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says YHWH Sabaoth: what are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain. He will bring forth the capstone, amid cheers and cries of “Grace! Grace!” And Zerubbabel’s hands will complete the temple he began to build; let all who love God rejoice. And the two trees are two anointed messengers who stand beside the Lord of all the earth.’
God’s word to Jeremiah: ‘Behold, I Am YHWH, God of all flesh; nothing is too difficult for Me. I Am giving Jerusalem into the hands of the Chaldeans and Nebuchadrezzar, Babylon’s king, and he shall capture it. The Chaldeans will set My temple afire, along with the houses where incense has been offered to Baal and libations poured out to other idols, to provoke My anger. The sons of Judah and of Israel have done only evil in My sight from their youth, provoking My anger by their deeds. I am angry with this city, and I will destroy it from My sight. They have turned their nether parts to Me, facing away; though I have taught them persistently, they will not receive My instruction. They set up idolatrous abominations in the house called by My Name, to defile it. They built high places to Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, offering their own sons and daughters as human sacrifices to Molech; I have not commanded this, nor would it have entered My mind! This is an abomination, bringing sin and disgrace upon Judah.’ So says the Lord.
Paul writes to Gentile believers: You might no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds, darkened in understanding, alienated from God’s life by ignorance and hard hearts. They are callous, abandoned to licentiousness, greedy to practice every sort of sin. That’s not what you learned, if you were taught Jesus, because the truth is in Him. Put off the old nature that belongs to your old lifestyle, corrupted by deceitful lusts. Be renewed in the spirit of your minds; put on the new nature, created after God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness. Let everyone speak truth to one another. Do not sin in anger; give the devil no opportunities. Let the thief no longer steal; rather, let him work with his hands, earning enough for himself and some for the needy. Let no evil talk come from your mouths; speak only what edifies and brings grace to the hearers. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit in Whom you were sealed for redemption’s day. Separate yourselves from all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice; be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving, as God in the Messiah has forgiven you. Imitate God, dear children! Walk in love, as the Messiah loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Don’t even speak of fornication, impurity, or covetousness—no filthiness, no lewd talk, no silliness or empty chatter—none of these is fitting. Give thanks. Stay away from unbelievers and pagans. You are light in the Lord. Expose the wicked acts of darkness, don’t take part in them. Wake up, and let Christ shine on you and through you. Make the most of the time you have, walking in wisdom even in these evil times. Understand God’s will, then do it. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, not with wine or debauchery. Encourage one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord with all your heart. For everything, always, give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to God the Father.
Jesus embarked from Gadara to Capernaum. When He landed, some people brought a paralytic before Him. Jesus saw their faith, and addressed the man on his pallet: ‘Take heart, My son. Your sins are forgiven.’ Some scribes heard, and said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? Is it easier to say one’s sins are forgiven, or to command the paralyzed to rise and walk? Just so you may know that the Son of man has authority to forgive sins’ and here He turned to the man on his pallet, ‘Rise, take up your bed, and go home.’ And the man did just that. The crowds were thrilled and afraid, and they glorified God, who gave such authority to a man. Passing along, Jesus came to a man name Matthew sitting at the tax office; and He said, ‘Follow Me!’ And Matthew got up and followed Jesus. Later, Jesus was sitting at table in Matthew’s house, and many tax collectors and those identified as sinners came and joined Jesus and His disciples. Seeing this, the Pharisees challenged Jesus’ disciples: ‘Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus heard and answered: ‘Those who are well need no doctor; it’s the sick who need Him. Go and learn what the scripture means, that says “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” I came not to call the self-righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’ Next, some of John the Baptizer’s disciples came to Jesus. They asked Him, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not?’ Jesus answered: ‘The wedding guests cannot mourn while the Bridegroom is with them. But the days will come when He is taken from them, and then they will fast. Nobody patches an old torn garment with a patch of new material, for when the patch shrinks, it will make the tear even worse. For the same reason, we don’t put new wine in old wineskins—if we did, the wine would begin to expand and would burst the skins, and the wine and skins would both be lost. New wine is put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.’
Saturday, May 22, 2010 – Eve of Pentecost
Devotions: Ps 108:1-6; Exod 19:3-20; Ezek 36:22-27; Eph 6:10-24; 1 Pet 2:4-10; Mt 9:19-26
My heart is steadfast, YHWH, and I will sing Your praises everywhere. Your love is great above the heavens; Your faithfulness stretches past the skies. Let Your glory shine over all creation; all is Yours. And our victories come only from You, my God and King.
When Israel arrived at Sinai after leaving Egypt, YHWH called to Moses, ‘Say to the house of Jacob: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I brought you on eagle’s wings to Myself. If you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My own special possession among all humanity—for all creation is Mine, and you will be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’ Moses told all this to the Israelites, and they agreed to do all God had proposed. YHWH told Moses, ‘I Am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak to you, and they may also believe in you for ever.’ YHWH told Moses to have the people consecrate themselves for two days, and to be ready for His presence on the third, when YHWH would come down onto the mountain in the sight of everyone. God told Moses to set boundaries around the mountain, to prevent people and animals from touching the holy ground, for any being that did this would be stoned or killed with arrows. When God’s trumpet sounded, the people were to come to the edge, but not onto the mountain. The people did all that God had Moses tell them. On that third day, there were great thunders and lightnings; a thick cloud came upon the mountain, and increasingly loud trumpet blasts—all this made the people tremble in awe. Moses led them out and they took their stand at the foot of Mt. Sinai. The mount was wrapped in smoke as YHWH descended upon it in fire, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Moses spoke, and God answered in thunder. YHWH called Moses to ascend, and he did so. YHWH told Moses: Go down and warn the people not to break through onto the mountain, lest they perish. Moses assured God that they would obey His command. Then YHWH told Moses to bring Aaron up with him, but to prevent the priests and people from encroaching, lest God break forth and destroy them. Moses went down and did all that God had directed.
God told Ezekiel: Tell Israel that their God says this: I Am not acting because of you, but for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which I brought you. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name, which you have profaned among the goyim. The nations will come to know that I Am YHWH, when I vindicate My holiness through you and in their sight. I will take you from among the nations and gather you from all the countries, and establish you in your own land. I will sprinkle you with clean water and cleanse you from uncleanness and idolatry; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and carefully obey My ordinances.
Paul wrote to the Christians: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty strength. Put on God’s whole armor so you can face the wiles of the devil. We are not at war with flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, world rulers of darkness, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Take up God’s armor, that you may withstand the evil day and, in the end, to remain standing. Do this girding yourselves with truth, donning righteousness as a breastplate, and shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Take up the shield of faith, which you can use to quench the fiery darts of the evil one. Put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, God’s own word. Pray at all times in the Spirit; stay alert and persevere, praying for all the saints and also for me—that God give me utterance boldly to proclaim the holy mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to do. Stay in touch! And may God’s peace, love and faith be with you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus the Messiah with love undying!
Peter wrote to the Christians ‘in the Diaspora’: Come to Jesus, the living Stone rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God’s sight; and like living stones yourselves, be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus the Messiah. Scripture reads, ‘Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.’ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who do not, He is, ‘the very stone which the builders rejected, become the head of the corner,’ and ‘a Stone that makes men stumble and a Rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people; you have the privilege and responsibility to declare the wonderful deeds of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. At one time, you were no people; but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy; but now you have God’s mercy!
Jesus was responding to Jairus’ plea to save his dying daughter. But as He proceeded, a woman came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment. She had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had resolved, ‘If I just touch His garment, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned to the woman, saying ‘Take heart, daughter. Your faith has made you well.’ And instantly, she was cured. When Jesus came to Jairus’ house, He confronted a crowd of loud mourners, playing flutes and making a tumult. Jesus said, ‘Depart! The girl is not dead but sleeping.’ They laughed at Jesus, but when they were put outside, Jesus went in, took the girl by her hand, and she arouse. And the report of this went throughout that district.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Devotions: Ps 106; Ezek 33:1-11; 1 John 1; Mt 9:27-34
Let us praise YHWH, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever. Blessed are those who observe justice and act righteously. We have been a race of fallen sinners, rebelling against our God even when He has delivered us from bondage and armed enemies. How soon we forget His goodness, though God has given evidence of His holy love at every turn. When He first brought the Israelites to the land of promise, they doubted God’s ability to deliver it to them. Therefore, they wandered in the wilderness forty years, continuing to complain and periodically to rebel against God. When God’s anger was kindled against His people, He turned them over to foreigners—yet God always recalled His covenant and delivered us from evil. Blessed is YHWH, the God of Israel, forever. Let all His people say ‘Amen,’ and praise our God.
YHWH spoke to Ezekiel: Son of man, tell your people: if I bring the sword against a land, and its people have chosen a watchman, and he warns the people, then the blood of those who ignore his message and perish in the conflict will be on their own heads. But if such a watchman fails to warn the people, the blood of those who fall will be on him. Ezekiel, you are My watchman—so be certain that you pass along every warning that I give you to convey. If the wicked will not listen to you, that is their problem; you will have saved yourself. Tell the Israelites that I, Y HWH, take no pleasure in their misfortunes; if the wicked will repent and turn back to Me, I will bless them—why die in sin, Israel? Righteous people can fall if they begin to trust themselves and disobey Me; wicked people can be delivered if they turn from their rebellion and seek My forgiveness and protection.
John the beloved apostle wrote: What I proclaim is this: that which was from the beginning, what I have heard and seen and touched, concerning the word of life. True life was manifested before me; I saw it, and testify to it. I tell you about the eternal life that was with the Father and was manifested to us. And what I have seen and heard I tell you, so that you may have fellowship with us who believe; our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus the Messiah. I am writing this so that our joy may be complete! Here is the message we heard from Him and proclaim to you: God is light; there is no darkness at all in Him. Now, if we claim fellowship with God while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus God’s Son cleanses us from all sin. If we claim to have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and He will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we contend that God is a liar, and His word is not in us.
Jesus was on His way when two blind men followed after Him, crying out, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’ When He went into his house, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I Am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they answered. Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying ‘According to your faith, be it done to you.’ And their sight was restored. Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows about this.’ But they spread His fame throughout that district. As the two men were departing, a dumb demoniac was brought to Jesus. When He had cast out the demon, the dumb man spoke, and the onlookers marveled, saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel!’ But the Pharisees took another perspective: ‘He casts out demons by the prince of demons.’
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Devotions: Ps 9, 15, 25; Prov 10:1-12; 1 Tim 1:1-17; Mt 12:22-32
Today, Lord, I will be grateful. I thank You with my whole heart; I will be glad and exult in You, Most High! You have sustained me, and vindicated me before my enemies. You are a Stronghold for the oppressed and grieving. Give me opportunity to boast of You today. Who can come into Your presence? Those who walk blamelessly, who do what is right, and who speak truth from the heart. I will not slander or do evil; I will seek peace with my neighbors and honor those who fear the Lord. Whoever stands with You will never be moved. I lift my soul to You, YHWH; I will trust You always; don’t let me be put to shame. Help me to know Your ways, O Lord; be my Teacher. Remember me according to Your steadfast love and faithfulness; help me to keep Your covenant and testimonies. I will abide in prosperity; my children and grandchildren will prosper under Your care. My eyes and ears are ever toward YHWH; relieve my troubles and forgive my sins, holy Lord. May Your integrity and righteousness preserve me, for I wait upon You!
Solomon’s proverbs: A wise son gladdens his father; a foolish son brings his mother great sorrow. Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. YHWH feeds the righteous, but thwarts the cravings of the wicked. Laziness breeds poverty; diligence builds riches. One who gathers when the crop is ready is prudent; those who shun harvesting bring shame. The righteous are blessed, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. It is a blessing to remember the righteous, but the name of the wicked will rot. Wise hearts heed God’s commands, but a prating fool comes to ruin. Who walks in integrity is secure, but whoever perverts his ways will be discovered. One who winks the eye causes trouble, but one who boldly reproves makes peace.
Paul wrote to Timothy: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Messiah Jesus our Lord. Stay at Ephesus so that you can direct certain persons to return to sound doctrine, to turn from myths and genealogies—these promote speculation rather than the divine training that is by faith. Our goal is love issuing from pure hearts, good consciences, and sincere faith. When people swerve from these, they wander into vain discussion; they arrogate themselves as teachers of the law, but they don’t understand what they’re talking about. Now, we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully; but a basic principle is that the law was given for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for patricides and matricides, for murderers, the immoral, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine. Such interpretation accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, the message with which I have been entrusted. I thank the Messiah Jesus our Lord, who has provided the strength for this task, because He judged me faithful by appointing me to His service, even though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted Him. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that the Messiah Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and I am the foremost of sinners! But I received mercy in this very thing: that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus the Messiah might display His perfect patience, as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
A man made blind and dumb by a demon was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man, so that he could speak and see. The people were amazed, and wondered, ‘Can this be the Son of David?’ But the Pharisees scoffed: ‘It is only by Beelzebul, prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.’ Jesus knew their thoughts, and confronted the Pharisees: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; no city or house divided can stand. So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions, unless he first binds the strong man? Only then can one plunder the strong man’s house. Pay attention: whoever is not with Me is against Me; he who does not gather with Me scatters. Therefore, I tell you: every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven mortals, but not the unique blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Whoever speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.’
About Me
- Dr. Will Hensel
- Christian, brother/father/grandpa, Kathe's widower, learner and teacher, inquisitive, persistent, quick, verbal, introverted, intense, growing beyond surface ambivalence and struggles with impatience and stubbornness, toward deep unity and peace
No comments:
Post a Comment