Previews

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

Saturday, July 10, 2010
Devotions: Ps 20, 21:1-7, 110, 116, 117; Deut 34:1-12; Rom 10:14-21; Mt 24:32-51

May God answer in days of trouble, and protect in times of distress. May God grant our heart’s desire and fulfill our plans. May we shout in victory in God’s name, and set up banners to His glory! I know God helps those He saves, and I will boast only in YHWH’s name. Lord, I rejoice in Your strength and goodness. I thank You for the blessings I have, Lord. You swallow up my enemies, and I sing and praise Your power! By Your grace, I will not be moved. The Father said to my Lord Jesus, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ God has made Jesus eternal King and High Priest. He will rule and bless His people forever. I love YHWH, in part because He hears and answers my prayers—He condescends to me, and blesses me. YHWH is gracious and merciful, and He sides with the downtrodden. He gives me soul-rest when I am ‘plumb tuckered.’ I give myself to You, my Lord, in gratitude and devotion. God has set me free, and I freely choose to serve Him! Great is His steadfast love toward all who honor Him. Hallelu Jah!

Moses scaled the top of Pisgah, opposite Jericho, and YHWH showed Moses all the land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the lands of Ephraim and Manasseh, the territory of Judah down to the Mediterranean, the Negev, the Arabah and Jordan valley around Jericho down to Zoar. God let Moses see it, but not enter the land. Moses, YHWH’s friend and servant, died there in Moab and God buried him in the valley opposite Beth-peor, but no man knows the place of his burial. Moses died at 120 years, clear of vision and vigorously healthy. The people of Israel wept for Moses thirty days, then ended their mourning. Joshua was filled with God’s spirit, and he led Israel according to YHWH’s will. There was no other prophet like Moses, whom YHWH knew face to face; none through whom God did such signs and wonders as He did in Egypt against Pharaoh; none who wielded such mighty power or did such great and terrible deeds as Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

People cannot call on God unless they have believed in Him. They can only believe if they have heard about God. They can hear only if someone proclaims the gospel to them. And one can preach only if called and sent by God. As scripture puts it, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!’ Not all obey the gospel who have heard it. The word has gone forth into all the earth. Moses recognized this: ‘I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.’ And Isaiah added this: ‘I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown Myself to those who did not ask for Me.’ But of Israel, Isaiah said, ‘All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.’

Jesus taught: Learn this lesson from the fig tree: when its branches become tender and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see the signs I have described for you, you will know that He Is near, at your very gates. I tell you truly: this generation will not pass away until all these things come to pass. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But no one knows the day and hour God will come—not even heavenly angels nor the Son—only the Father knows. The visitation of the Son of man will be as it was in Noah’s days. Before the flood, people lived as always, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day Noah entered the ark; no one knew anything new was coming until the flood swept them away. So it will be at the coming of the Son of man: two men will be working in a field; one will be taken, and the other left behind. So stay alert! You don’t know when your Lord is coming; but you do know this: if the householder had known when the thief would arrive, he would have kept watch and kept his home from being invaded. You must also stay vigilant, for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. We’ll find out who is faithful when the test comes. Blessed is that servant whom the Master finds serving faithfully. That servant will be rewarded with greater responsibilities and rewards. But if a wicked servant assumes that the Master is delayed, and begins to mistreat his fellow servants and carouse with the drunks, the Master will arrive when the servant least expects Him, and at an hour unforeseen, and will punish him and set him with the hypocrites—in a place where all will weep and gnash their teeth.