Immeasurable love

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Devotions: Ps 107:33-43; Hos 11:1-9; Acts 22:17-29; Lk 6:27-38

YHWH turns deserts to gardens and fuited plains to salty wastes. He provides for the poor and the virtuous; He destroys the wicked. The upright see God's work and rejoice; the wicked see, and shut their mouths. Let the wise heed these things; let mortals consider the steadfast love of YHWH.

When Israel was a child, God loved him, designated him God's son, and called him out of Egypt. But the more God pursued, the more Israel turned away to idols. God taught the infant nation to walk, carried him through the dangers of the wilderness, led them with cords of compassion and bands of love. God hates this unfaithfulness, but will not destroy His beloved ones. Judah is still known and loved by YHWH, and when God roars like a lion, His people will come to Him!

Paul continued his testimony before the mob in Jerusalem: 'When I had returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the temple and fell into a trance. I saw Jesus saying to me, "Hurry and get out of Jerusalem; they won't accept your testimony about Me.: I said, "Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. When the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I was standing by and approving; I watched over the garments of those who stoned him to death." And Jesus said to me, "Depart, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles."' Hearing this, the crowd began to roar again, and sought to destroy Paul. The tribune commanded that he be brought into the barracks; he ordered that Paul be examined by scourging, to discover why the crowd was so angry with him. But as they were binding him to begin the beating, Paul asked the centurion, 'Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?' The centurion took this disturbing news to the tribune, who questioned Paul: 'Are you a Roman citizen?' Pauls answered, 'Yes.' The tribune said, 'I bought my citizenship at a great price,' but Paul said, 'I was born a citizen.' So those who were about to beat him withdrew, and even the tribune was anxious, because he had bound a Roman citizen.

Luke's account of Jesus' teaching on the plain continued: 'I tell you, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If someone strikes your cheek, turn the other cheek to him; from him who takes your coat don't withold your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and whoever takes your goods, do not ask him to return them. As you wish that people would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, there is no credit in that. If you do good to those who treat you well, there is no credit in that. Even sinners lend to sinner, so that they can make a profit. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don't judge, and you won't be judged; don't condemn, and you won't be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and you will be given a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, poured into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.'