We become like what or Whom we worship

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Devotions: Ps 131-35; Mic 3:1-8; Acts 24:1-23; Lk 7:36-50

YHWH, I bow to You; I am not exalted or puffed up; I have stilled and quieted my soul like a child at its mother's breast. My hope and trust is in You alone. Keep in mind the struggles I've had; let God also have His rest. Lord, You keep Your word, and I honor those who serve You. Look how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live in unity and harmony! It is like the anointing oil on Aaron's beard, or the dew on Mt. Hermon. God overflows with blessings for His people. Let all who serve YHWH lift our hands in praise and thanks, and let us bless the Lord. I know that YHWH is great, Sovereign over all spiritual beings and Master of all creation. He does whatever He pleases; He sustains the cycles of nature; He chose and delivered a people for Himself. YHWH, Your name endures forever. The pagan idols are statues of metal or wood or stone; they cannot think, or see, or speak. And we mortals become like whatever or Whomever we worship. Let all God's people, then, bless the Lord and praise His holy name.

Micah said: Hear all you leaders of Israel: should you not know justice? Yet you hate the good and love the evil; you exploit God's people, and devour them and their substance. Hear what God says about false prophets: you shall live in utter darkness—no vision, no divination for liars! The seers will be disgraced and hush their voices. True prophets, God fills with power and enlightenment—with the Spirit of YHWH, with justice and might, to declare their sins to God's people. Beware, false prophets and faithless leaders: your land will be plowed up and brought down in ruins, and your heights will be covered with forests and moss.

After the Roman tribune transferred Paul to the custody of the governor in Caesarea, five days passed, then the high priest Ananias came to the capitol, accompanied by some Jewish elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who spoke for them to the governor. He flattered the Roman leader, and then accused Paul: 'We have found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, a ringleader among the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to prophane the Jerusalem temple, but we seized him. You can confirm these charges by examining him yourself.' The Jewish leaders confirmed and joined in the charges. The governor motioned Paul to speak, and he began: 'Recognizing your years of leadership over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You may ascertain that no more than twelve days ago, I went up to worship at Jerusalem. I was not disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or the synagogues, or in the city. They cannot prove their false charges. This I admit: I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way, which these men call a sect. I believe everything laid down by law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God—the same that these men accept, that there will be a resurrection of both just and unjust. I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. After some years away, I came to bring alms and offerings for the support of my nation. As I was doing this, these men found me in the temple, purified, and without any crowd or tumult. Some Jews from Asia—who should be here making the charges, if they have anything against me—accosted me and stirred up a riot against me. These men also examined me in their council; the one thing they could say is that as I responded to them, I affirmed that I was on trial because of my belief in the resurrection of the dead.' Felix knew about the Way, and he put them off: 'When Lysias the tribune appears here, I will decide your case.' Felix ordered that Paul be kept in custody, but allowed some freedom, and permitted that his friends could see to Paul's needs. Some days later, Felix came again, accompanied by his Jewish wife Drusilla, and heard Paul speak about faith in the Messiah Jesus. Felix became agitated and told Paul, 'Go away for the present; when I have opportunity, I will summon you.' Felix hoped that Paul would present him with a bribe, so he kept him in custody and sent for him often and conversed with him. After two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and as a favor to the Jews, Felix left Paul in prision in Caesarea.

A Pharisee invited Jesus to eat with him, and Jesus went to the Pharisee's house and took His place at the table. A woman of the city, known as a sinner, learned that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind Jesus' feet, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman this is who touches him, for she is an unworthy sinner.' And Jesus answered his unspoken thoughts: 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' He replied, 'What is it, Teacher?' Jesus said, 'A certain creditor had two debtors. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other owed fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?' Simon replied, 'I suppose, the one to whom he forgave more.' Jesus said, 'You have judged rightly.' He turned toward the woman and continued, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house, and you gave me no water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but since I came in, she has not ceased from kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with valuable ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.' And Jesus said to the woman, 'Your sins are forgiven.' Then those at table with Him began to say, 'Who is this, who even forgives sins?' And he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'