Do whatever He tells you

Friday, January 7, 2011
Devotions: Ps 103, 114, 115; Isa 52:3-6; Rev 2:1-7; Jn 2:1-11

Let my soul and all that is in me bless God and His holy name. I will remember, Lord, all Your benefits to me—You forgive my sins, You heal my diseases, You redeem me from the Pit; You crown me with steadfast love and mercy, You satisfy me with good as long as I shall live, renewing my youth like the eagle's vitality. YHWH works justice and vindication for the oppressed; He revealed His ways to Moses and His deeds to the people of Israel. YHWH is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. His chiding is pointed, but brief; His anger is a consuming fire, but passes quickly for those in His flock. He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; He does not punish us as our iniquities would suggest. His steadfast love for us wo fear Him towers as the heavens overshadow the earth. He sends our sins as far from us as east is from west. YHWH pities us who fear Him, just as a loving father pitites his children. He knows how we're made: we are dust; we pass like wildflowers that bloom then fade in a moment. But YHWH's steadfast love is forever; His righteousness extends to every generation for those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments. YHWH's everlasting throne is establish in the heavens. Let His angels bless our Lord; bless God, you who are His ministers and messengers! Let all God's works bless Him, and my soul, too, will bless YHWH! When Israel came out from Egypt, YHWH settled with His people in the land of promise. The sea and mountains quake and tremble before God's might—He Who turns rocks to pools of water and flint into flowing springs! Lord, glorify Your holy name, for the sake of Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Our God Is. He does whatever pleases Him; other 'god's are figments, metal or wood objects which mortals have made. They may have mouths, ears, noses, hands and feet, but they cannot speak, hear, smell, touch, or walk. And people become like what or Whom they worship. So let us trust in YHWH, the living God, the great I Am, our Help and Shield. Let Aaron's house trust YHWH. Let all who fear God trust in Him. YHWH has taken thought for us, and He will bless us—all who fear Him, both small and great. May YHWH increase you and your house; may you be blessed by YHWH, Maker of heaven and earth. He has given the earth to the descendants of Adam and Eve; let us bless YHWH forever. Hallelujah!

Wake up, Zion, and put on your strength and your beautiful raiment, Jerusalem. Shake off the dust and arise, captive Jerusalem, and loose the yoke of captivity from your neck, daughter of Zion. For YHWH syas this: You were sold for nothing, and will be redeemed without money. My people have been enslaved in Egypt and oppressed by Assyria. And in their captivity, they have wailed, despising Me and forgetting My commands. But My people will know My name and they will learn that I Am speaking: here Am I!

Jesus told John to write this to the church in Ephesus: The words of the One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, and Who walks among the seven golden lampstands:  I know what you have done--your had labor and patience.  I know that you cannot tolerate evil people, and that you have tested those who pass themselves off as apostles but are not, and you have demonstrated that they are frauds.  you have patience and have put up with a lot because of My name, and have not grown weary.  I have one thing against you, however: you have abandoned the love you had at first.  So now, remember the place from which you have fallen.  Repent, and do the works you did at the beginning.  If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place.  You do have this in your favor: you hate what the Nicolaitans do, as I hate it also.  Let anyone who has ears listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.  The tree of life stands in God's paradise, and I will give
to anyone who conquers the right to eat from it.

On a particular Tuesday, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Mary, Jesus' mother, was there, as was Jesus, with His followers. When the wine gave out, Mary said to Him, 'They have no wine.' Jesus replied, 'Dear woman, what are you asking of Me? My hour has not yet come.' But Mary said to the servants, 'Do whatever He tells you.' Nearby were six large stone jars, normally used for the water used in the ritual baths; each held twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars to the brim, then draw out some of the liquid from one and take it to the steward of the feast. When the steward tasted the water now made wine, he called the bridegroom to him and said, 'People usually serve the best wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, they bring out the poor wine. But you have kept the finest wine until now!' Jesus did all this at Cana in Galilee, thus manifesting His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.