God has the final move

New Guest: Like this one, most entries in this blog are devotional; those related to Car Biz can be located by searching the archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first entry, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. You can find it in the 'Joyride' archives. I hope you'll record any responses you have to the entries you read, since they work best as opening remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,

Dr. Will

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Devotions: Ps 61, 62, 68; Jdg 2:1-23; Rom 16:17-27; Mt 27:32-44

Lord, hear me, though my cry is faint. Put me in a safe place, above the floods, beyond enemies' reach. You know me, Lord, and I have given myself to You. I wait quietly for You, alone. I will trust in God--there is no other savior. Power belongs to God, and I have commited to follow Him. Let God arise and scatter His enemies. Let them melt like wax, blow away like chaff. God is Parent to the orphan, Husband to the widow, Companion to the solitary, Teacher to the foolish and ignorant, Master of nature, Keeper of the flocks and herds. Blessed is YHWH, Who daily lifts us up, our Savior, our Lord! Let all kingdoms of earth pay Him tribute and bow to His power and justice. Blessed and exalted is our God!

YHWH's angel went up from Gilgal to Bochim. He confronted the Israelites: 'You have not obeyed My commands, so the inhabitants of the land will become your adversaries.' The people wept--hence the place's name 'Bochim' (Weepers). When Joshu had dismissed the people, they dispersed, each to his own inheritance. After Joshua and his generation had past awy, the people of Israel did evil in YHWH's sight, forsaking Him, the God of their fathers, and went after the gods of the people of the land--the Baals, Ashtaroth, Molech and so on. YHWH's anger was kindled against Israel, and He gave them over to plunderers. They could no longer withstand their enemies. YHWH was against them, and every battle led to defeat. YHWH raised up judges who delivered the Israelites from the hands of othose who plundered them. But the people did not continue to listen to their judges, and recurrently played the harlot with other gods. YHWH had pity on the people when they were afflicted and oppressed, but when the judges God provided had done their service and passed away, the people repeatedly fell into sin and rebellion, breaking God's covenant and provoking Him to wrath. So YHWH left the Gentile nations in the land, and did not give them wholly into the power of Joshua.

As Paul concluded his letter to the Roman Christians, he appealed to them to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties in opposition to Paul's doctrine--and then to avoid those troublemakers. Such persons, he wrote, do not serve our Lord the Messiah, but their own appetites. They deceive and mislead the people by their fair and flattering words. If the Christians behave wisely, the God of peace will soon crush Satan beneath our feet. Paul blessed his readers: 'the grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with you.' And Paul conveyed greetings from Timothy, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. Tertius, Paul's amanuensis, added his own greetings in the Lord, along with those of Gaius, Erastus and Quartus. 'Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now revealed and made known to all nations through prophetic writings, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus the Messiah. Amen.

As the Romans drove Jesus and two other comdemned men toward their executions, they encountered Simon of Cyrene, and compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they came to Golgotha, they offered Jesus wine with gall to drink; He tasted it, but refused the drink. When they had crucified Him, they divided Jesus' garments by casting lots, then sat down to watch over Him there. Above His head they fixed the charge gainst Him: 'Jesus, King of the Jews.' Two brigands were crucified with Him, one on each side of Jesus. Those who passed by derided Him, and the chief priests, scribes and elders mocked Him. Even the robbers who were crucified alongside Jesus reviled Him in these ways.