Blessings, not collateral damage, for the faithful

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

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Devotions: Ps 94, 97, 99; Num 16:20-35; Rom 4:1-12; Mt 19:23-30

YHWH, God of vengeance, shine forth! Let the Judge of all arise and render justice to the wicked, who afflict God’s people, killing widows, sojourners and orphans, and bragging that God has no idea what they’re doing. Listen, fools: God made the eye and the ear; He definitely can see and hear. He manages the universe, and He can discipline individual sinners. God knows our thoughts, and He fathoms our mortality. Blessed are all whom God teaches and disciplines. YHWH does not forsake His people; if He had not helped me, I’d long ago have died. God, Your steadfast love upholds me; You are my Rock and my Refuge. And YHWH my God will wipe out the wicked! How awesome God is! He puts to shame all idolaters, but believers exult in God our Savior. YHWH loves those who hate evil; He preserves the lives of His saints. Light dawns for the righteous; joy comes for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to His holy name. YHWH reigns; let all the peoples tremble before Him, enthroned among the cherubim. Mighty King, Lover of justice, You have established equity and executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Extol YHWH our God, and worship at His footstool. Moses and Aaron and Samuel were among His servants; YHWH, You answered them; You protected and guided them and avenged wrongs done to them. Let all extol YHWH our God and worship at His holy mountain, for YHWH our God is holy.

YHWH said to Moses and Aaron: ‘Step away from the congregation, so I may consume them in a moment.’ The brothers fell facedown before God, and prayed: ‘O YHWH, God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin and you punish everyone?’ YHWH replied, ‘Tell the people to get away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’ Moses did this, and the people moved away from their tents. Dathan and Abiram and their families came and stood at the doors of their tents. And Moses addressed the assembly: ‘Hereby you will know that YHWH has sent me to do all these works, and I am not acting on my own. If these men die a normal death, visited by the common fate, then YHWH has not sent me. But if YHWH does a new thing, and the ground opens up and swallows them up, with all they possess, and they go down alive to Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised YHWH (and not merely criticized me).’ As Moses finished speaking, the ground under their tents split open, and the earth swallowed them, with their households and all the men who had followed Korah and all their goods. They all went down to Sheol while alive; and the earth closed over them and they perished from the very midst of the community. All Israel fled at their lament, fearing that the earth would swallow the rest of the assembly too. And fire came forth from YHWH and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.

Paul used Abraham to illustrate the life of faith: If our forefather Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about—but not before God. The scripture says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now think: for a worker, his wages are not considered a gift, but what he has earned. But one who does not work, but trusts Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. David also blesses the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom YHWH will not reckon his sin.’ Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? Consider Abraham: he was reckoned righteous before he was circumcised, and received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he already possessed by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Why? God did this to make Abraham the father of all who believe without being circumcised, those who have righteousness reckoned to them; he is also the father of the circumcised who also follow the example of the faith our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Jesus said to His disciples: ‘I tell you truly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the Eye of the Needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.’ This astonished the disciples; ‘Then who can be saved,’ they asked. Jesus replied, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Peter responded, ‘Lord, we have left everything and followed you. What then is coming to us?’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, in the new world, when the Son of man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Every person who ohas left houses or siblings or parents or children or lands for My name’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and will inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.’