Jesus died for all God's people

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

Monday, July 26, 2010 Devotions: Ps 56, 57, 64, 65; Josh 24:16-33; Rom 16:1-16; Mt 27:24-31

When I am in trouble, I put my trust in You, my Lord. In God we trust without fear. I know that God is for me, because my enemies have not destroyed me, try as they might. God is merciful to me; He puts my enemies to shame. My heart is steadfast, and I praise my God. Let Your glory be over all the earth. I leave my enemies for God to judge and to punish. Let the righteous rejoice in YHWH our Savior, and all the upright in heart praise His holy name. We are fully satisfied with the goodness of God's household. How God cares for His creation, and all nature celebrates His goodness.

Joshua was concluding his ministry and leadership before the Israelites. At his challenge, the people responded: 'Far be it from us to forsake YHWH to serve other gods. YHWH our God brought us forth from bondage in Egypt with great signs of power, and preserved us along the way through the wilderness and into the land of promise. He displaced the peoples before us, and we also will serve YHWH, for He is our God.' But Joshua challenged the people: 'You can't serve YHWH, for He is holy and jealous; He will not forgive your sins. If you serve foreign gods, He will turn and harm you; He will consume you.' But the people insisted, 'No, we will serve YHWH faithfully.' Joshua again challenged them: 'You are witnesses against yourselves, that you have chosen to serve YHWH alone.' 'Yes,' they answered, 'we are witnesses!' Joshua said, 'Then put away the foreign gods among you, and turn to YHWH the God of Israel.' And the people promised to love and serve and obey YHWH. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that very day, and established statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem, and wrote them in a book and erected a great stone near the oak. And Joshua said to all the people, 'This stone will be a witness to all we have said today.' So Joshua dismissed the people. And then he died, aged 110, and they buried Joshua in his inheritance at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Eprhaim. Israel remained faithful throughout Joshua's life and the lives of the elders who had served with him and had seen all YHWH's works for Israel. The bones of Joseph were also buried in Shechem, in land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for a hundred pieces of money, and the land became a part of the patrimony of the descendants of Joseph. Aaron's son Eleazar also died, and was buried in Gibeah, the town of his son Phinehas, in the hill country of Ephraim.

Paul neared the end of his letter to the Christians at Rome: 'I commend to you the deaconness Phoebe from Cenchreae; receive her as befits God's saints; help her as one who has helped me and many others. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in the Messiah Jesus; they risked their necks for me; all the Gentile churches owe them thanks. And greet the church that meets in their house.' Paul extended greetings to Epaenetus (the first convert in Asia), Mary, Andronicus, Junius, Ampliatus, Urbanus, stachys, Appelles, the household of Aristobulus, Heriodion, the household of Narcissus, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus (along with his mother and Paul's mother), Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints with them. Paul encouraged his readers to greet one another with a holy kiss, and sent them greetings from all the churches of Christ.

Pilate quickly tired of trying to save or protect Jesus; when it began to look like the crowd demanding His crucifixion would become unruly, Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, saying 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' All the people answered 'Yes, his blood be upon us and on our children!' Then Pilate released Barabbas and had Jesus scourged, then delivered Him to be crucified. The governor's troops took Jesus into their Praetorium and gathered the entire battalion before Him. They stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on Him; they plaited a crown of thorns and forced it down on His head, and put a reed in His right hand. Kneeling, they mocked Him: 'Hail, King of the Jews!' They spat on Him, beat Him with the reed, stripped off the robe, dressed Him again in His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him.