Exertions toward transformation

Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 and 20, 2011

Devotions: Ps 6, 12, 55, 74, 94; Jer 15:1-21; 17:5-17; Phil 3:15-4:13; Jn 12:20-36

Lord, be gentle with me; I'm struggling and weary. Let evil-doers depart from me, and let YHWH Sabaoth accept my prayers. Let God arise and scatter our enemies. His promises are purified seven-fold, while the wicked prowl and exalt vileness. Lord, keep me near You, and let me not become distracted by the noise of the enemy. Fear and trembling threaten to undo me. Let God destroy their plans gainst me, and protect me from false friends. The enemies scoff, but God will uphold His covenant and keep the downtrodden from being destroyed. Let the God of vengeance shine forth! He who created ears and eyes can hear and see; let God chasten the righteous and destroy the wicked! YHWH will not forsake His people; His steadfast love upholds us; He is my Rock and my Stronghold. Glory to You, God Most High!

God told Jeremiah no intecession could stay His anger against the sinful people of Judah, for they had utterly rejected God, despite His recurring entreaties to return. He will make them serve enemies in foreign places. When Your words came, Lord, I ate them and them became the joy and sustenance of my heart. I stand alone under Your care and authority. You sustain me in the face of opposition and hatread; You save and deliver me. Blessed are all who trust in YHWH; they are like trees planted near water; they don't fear the heat or drought, and bear fruit always. The human heart is desperately wicked and corrupt; God searches or minds and hearts, and rewards the righteous and deprives the wicked. Heal me, Lord; let me speak forth Your words. You are my Refuge for ever.

Paul entreats the Philippian Christians to be of one mind with him and to hold true to all they have learned and attained. Let the faithful imitate the saints as they imitate Jesus. Our commonwealth is in heaven, from where we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus the Messiah, who will change our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself. So let the Christians stand fast and agree together. Let us rejoice always in the Lord; let us have no anxiety about anything, but in everything let our requests be known to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. And God's peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and mind in the Messiah Jesus. Let us focus our thoughts on everything that is honorable, just, pure, lovely gracious, excellent and praiseworthy. Let us practice what we have learned in God's tutelage, and the God of peace will be with us. Paul was grateful for the consideration of his friends in Philippi, and assured them that he had learned to be content in an circumstances—abased or abounding, in plenty or hunger, abundance or want. I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me.

Some Greeks worshiping in Jerusalem at the time of Passover came to Philip and aksed to see Jesus. Philip got Andrew and the two brought this request to Jesus. He said, 'The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. I tell you truly, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but when it is planted, it dies and is transformed, and bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his love in this world will keep it for eternal life. Anyone who serves Me msut follow He; where I Am, there My servant shall be also. The Father will honor anyone who serves Me. Now My soul is troubled! What shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour!'? No, for I came to this moment for this very purpose. Rather: Father, glorify Your name! [A voice came from heaven: 'I have glrofied it, and I will glorify it again.'] Those standing nearby heard thunder; others claimed that an angel had spoken to Jesus. He said, 'This voice has come for your sake, not Mine. Now is the judgment of this world, and now the ruler of this world is cast out. And I, when I Am lifted up, will draw all mortals to Myself.' He said this to show the kind of death He would die. But the crowd didn't understand. They replied to Jesus, 'The Torah tells us that the Messiah abides forever. So how can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?' Jesus said, 'The Light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. One who walks in darkness has no knowledge of where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may become sons of Light.' Saying this, Jesus departed from them and hid Himself from them.