God's word divides

Monday and Tuesday, September 6 and 7

Devotions: Ps 41, 44, 45, 47, 48, 52; Job 29:1-20; 32:1-10, 19-33:1, 19-28; Acts 13:44-14:18; Jn 10:19-42

Blessed are they who consider the poor; YHWH will deliver them in the day of trouble and protect him against enemies and illness. I tell God, 'Lord, be gracious to me. Please heal me, for I have sinned against You.' My enemies wait for me to die and conspire over me. But I'm still standing, so I know God is for me. May God be blessed forever! We know Your long history with humankind, Lord—what great deeds of power and love You have performed, my King and my God. I will boast of my God continually. Yet, this same God leaves me to struggle with the taunts and derision of those who laugh in scorn at me. I have not abandoned God, and I believe God has not abandoned me. Lord, arise and deliver me for Your steadfast love's sake. Myt heart overflows with praise for Jesus, fairest of men, mighty Warrior, majestic King. Your divine throne endures forever and God has anointed You with the oil of his gladness. The people of God bow to Jesus as our Master and Lord. We bring sons and daughters into the family of God. Let all people rejoice who worship YHWH, God Most High. Sing His praises, for our God reigns! Great is YHWH and greatly to be praised. How majestic is His holy city Jerusalem. I ponder Your steadfast love, O God, my Sovereign Lord and Guide forever.

Job's discourse continues: 'Oh that I could return to the days when YHWH favored me—when God watched over me and His lamp shone above my head, and God's friendship blessed my tent and my children were alive and well. I went out to the city gate and the young and old honored me—I was heard and honored among the wise and strong, and loved by the poor, whom I delivered, and the widows and orphans whom I helped. I wore righteousness like a robe and turban; I was eyes for the blind and legs for the lame. I thought I'd live a glorious life and die a satisfied old man.' Job's three contemporaries were unable to persuade him to admit his guilt before God. Then a younger man, Elihu the Buzite spoke up: 'I held my peace out of respect for your age and experience. But it is God's spirit in a man, not our own insight, that gives one understanding. So I will have my say. I listened carefully; none of you three confuted Job. I must speak now, because my heart is bursting with indignation; I have no capacity to dissemble or flatter, and I am impartial. So hear the words of my heart, Job. God's Spirit has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me, if you can; I am toward God just as you are; I am clay, like you, so there need be no fear of me in your response; I cannot harm you further. I have heard you claim to be free of fault, but oppressed by God. You say God refuses to respond to you—but God's responses come by many means—dreams, visions, afflictions, strife. And God is gracious; when we draw near the Pit, He may deliver and ransom us; then man prays to God and He accepts him and the man comes into God's presence with joy. And then the man has a worthy testimony to share with fellow mortals: recounting his salvation, he sings before men and says, "I sinnned and perverted what was right, and it was not requited to me. God has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and my life shall see the light!" God does these things to bring back one's soul from the Pit, so we may see the light of life. Job, listen and hear! If you have something to say, speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, just listen, and I will teach you wisdom.'

On their second Sabbath in Pisidian Antioch, Pau and Barnabas again addressed the synagogue, but seeing the crowds and growing jealous, the leaders of the Jewish congregation contradicted what Paul said, reviling him. In reply, Paul and Barnabas said, 'It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Now, since you thrust it away, and thereby judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, watch this: we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying "I hae set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth." Hearing all this gladdened the Gentiles, and they glorified the word of God. And all who were ordained to eternal life believed, and God's word spread throughout that region. The Jews incited opposition to Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. The missionaries shook the dust from their feet and went to Iconium; and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. At Iconium, they followed their established pattern, first entering the Jewish synagogue and addressing a great company of Jews and Greeks. Unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, poisoning their minds against the Christians. Paul and Barnabas remained there a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, Who bore witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by the missionaries' hands. The people of Iconium divided over the gospel, some with the Jews, some with the apostles. When a plot was arising against them, the disciples learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, where they preached the gospel. At Lystra, there was a man seated, crippled from birth; he had never walked. As Paul preached, he looked at the man intently and saw that he had faith to be made well. So Paul addressed him in a loud voice: 'Stand upright on your feet!' The man sprang up and walked. Seeing this, the crowd lifted their voice in their local dialect, saying 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.' Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the main spokesman, they called Hermes. The local priest of Zeus brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer a sacrifice with the people. Hearing of this, the apostles were appalled; they tore their garments and rushed out addressing the multitude: 'Men, why are you doing this? We are just mortals, men like you. We're bringing you good news, that you should turn from such vanities and worship the living God Who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them. In the past, God let every generation and nation walk in their own ways. Yet, He did not leave Himself without a witness, for He did good for all; God gave you from heaven the rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.' With these words, Paul and Barnabas restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.'

Jesus and His words also caused division among those who heard Him. Many said He was mad and demon-possessed. But others replied, 'He doesn't talk like one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind, as He has done?' All this occurred in Jerusalem during the winter feast of Dedication (Hanukah). Jesus was walking in Solomon's Portico. The Jews surrounded Him and demanded clarification: 'If you are the Messiah, tell us so plainly.' Jesus said, 'I did tell you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name beare witness to Me. But you do not believe because you are not members of My flock. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life; they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father Are One.' At this, the Jews took up stones to kill Jesus. He said, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these will you stone Me?' They said, 'It is not for good work that we stone you, but for blasphemy—you, being a mortal man, claim yourself to be God.' Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your law, "I said, you are gods"? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him Whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming' because I said, "I Am the Son of God?" If I Am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I Am in the Father.' Again they tried to arrest Jesus, but He escaped from their hands.