Our lives orbit triune God

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 5, 2010
Devotions: Ps 1-4, 7; Num 32:1-6, 16-27; Rom 8:26-30; Mt 23:1-12

Blessed are they who delight in YHWH’s law and meditate on it day and night. They shun the counsel, the conduct and the company of the wicked and scornful. So they are like trees growing near flowing waters—fruitful in season, ever green. They prosper in all they undertake. Not so the wicked: they are like chaff windblown; they cannot face God’s judgment; they cannot join God’s congregation. YHWH watches over the path of the righteous, but lets the wicked perish in the paths they have chosen. So also with nations: those which conspire against God and His people face God’s derision; He will address them in wrath and fury. God treats His chosen ones like sons; let us call on Him, and He will make the nations our inheritance. They cannot master us, because God is for us. So let earthly rulers be wise and warned: serve YHWH with fear and trembling, for His anger is awesome and quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him! Lord, I have many enemies, but You are my Shield, my Glory, and the Lifter of my head. I live, waking and sleeping, under Your grace and protection. I fear nothing, for You are with me. I will trust in God, and hold His counsel dear. God has put more joy in my heart than those who harvest rich fields and vineyards. I live in God’s peace, and stand by His integrity. Let God’s fury fall on my enemies, while He establishes the righteous. God is a righteous Judge; I will give Him due thanks and praise, YHWH, God Most High!

The tribes of Reuben and Gad had great flocks and herds, and realized that the territory seized from Jazer and Gilead, east of Jordan, was perfect for their needs. The leaders of Reuben and Gad came before Moses and Eleazar, saying, ‘The land we’ve taken east of Jordan is a land for livestock, and we have a lot of livestock. So if we have found favor in your sight, let this land be our patrimony, rather than territory west of Jordan.’ Moses’ first response had to do with the mission of the entire people: ‘Will your brother tribes go to war while you sit here?’ But Reuben and Gad replied, ‘No. We will build sheepfolds for our flocks and cities for our wives and children, then take up arms and go before the other tribes of Israel until they also have their own territories. We won’t come home again until each of the Israelite tribes is settled in its own homeland. And we will be satisfied with our territory here, east of Jordan.’ Moses agreed to this: ‘If you do so, this land will be your possession before YHWH. But if you fail in this, your sin is against YHWH, and He will find it out. So do what you have proposed!’ And Reuben and Gad established their families and flocks in Gilead, and then prepared to go before Israel in the conquest of Canaan.

Paul wrote: The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans deeper than words. He Who searches the hearts of men knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints just as God wills. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him—those who are called according to God’s purpose. Those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that Jesus might be the first-born among many brothers and sisters. Those God predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Jesus addressed His disciples and the crowds that followed Him: The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so observe and practice whatever they tell you; but don’t do what they do—they preach, but they don’t practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to carry, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they don’t lift a finger to help in the work. They make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long; they love the places of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogue, and being saluted in the market place and called ‘rabbi’ by men. But you are not to be called rabbi: you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Neither let yourself be called ‘master,’ for you have one Master, the Messiah. Whoever is greatest among you must be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.