Focus on God, nothing else

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Devotions: Ps 78; Joel 1:15-2:11; Rev 19:1-10; Lk 14:25-35

Let God's people pay close attention to this teaching! Let us pass along to our children the history of YHWH's favor to His people. He gave His law to His people Israel, and commanded that they continue to pass it along to succeeding generations, that we would continue to trust God and keep His commandments. But that history shows how intractable human mortals are: Ephraim turned back on the day of battle; they deserted God's covenant, and forgot God Himself and all He had done for them—bringing them out of bondage in Egypt, leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, feeding them and providing fresh water in the desert. Yet they sinned against God more and more. He rained manna and quail upon them, but also let all fall in the desert who had denied Him. Their hearts were not steadfast, yet God in His compassion forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them for their faithlessness. He remebers that we are flesh, a passing wind. God led them out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders; he brought them through the Sea of Reeds and the Judean wilderness, and into the promised Land. He drove out nations before them and apportioned the land as an inheritance to His people—yet they continued to test and rebel against Him. They worshiped other gods. And God utterly rejected Israel and departed from Shiloh. He chose the tribe of Judah and Mout Zion for His abode; He picked out David and raised him from tending sheep to be king over His people of Israel and Judah. And David tended the people with a skillful hand.

Joel prophesied: Alas, the Lord's Day is upon us; food for the body and joy and gladness are cut off from the house of our God. Seeds shrivel, and the harvest fails. Lord, we cry to You—fire has devoured our crops, our pastures and our orchards. The water brooks and spring have gone dry. Let the trumpet sound in Zion, and let the people tremble, for the Day of the Lord approaches, a day of darkness and gloom. Like nightfall, a dread people, great and mighty, swarm across the mountains. Fire goes devouring before them and burns after they have passed. Before them, the land is like Eden, but behind them lies a desolate wilderness. They run like horses, leaping over the heights, devouring like wildfire in dry stubble. Peoples tremble before them, pale with fear. The army marches straight ahead, and nothing deters or turns them aside. YHWH speaks before His army, and none can endure the Day of His coming.

John's apocalyptic vision continues: I heard a great multitude in heaven crying, 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just! He has judged the great harlot who corrupted earth with her fornicaiton, and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants. Hallelujah! The smoke from her burning goes up forever and ever!' And the elders and living creatures fell down and worshiped God on His throne; they called out, 'Amen! Hallelujah!' From the throne came a voice, crying 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns! Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, pure and bright.' And the linen is the righteous deeds of God's saints. The angel told John, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' I fell at his feet to worship him, but the angel said, 'You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your fellowship who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!' For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Great multitudes accompanied Jesus wherever He went. He turned to them and said, 'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to decide whether you have enough to complete the project? Otherwise, when one has laid a foundation, and is unable to finish the building, he will be mocked by all who see it: "This man began to build and was not able to finish." Or what king, going forth to battle another king, will not first take counsel whether his forces are adequate to defeat those who oppose him? If not, while the other is still far away, he sends an embassy and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has now cannot be My disciple. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can its savor be restored? It has become unfit for the land or the dunghill; men throw it away. Let those who have ears to hear, hear this!'