Fearlessly go where He sends you

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Devotions: Ps 49, 119:49-72; Isa 49:1-12; Gal 2:11-21; Mk 6:13-29

Let everyone listen! I have no reason to fear in troubled times, surrounded by enemies, lacking wealth. No one can ransom himself from eternal judgment, in any case. Only God can do this. Wise and foolish, rich and poor alike among mortals—all will perish apart from divine intervention. Fools are those who place faith in anything apart from YHWH; but God will ransom my soul from Sheol and receive me to Himself. Lord, remember Your words to me; I take comfort and put my confidence in You. I call on You day and night. YHWH is my Portion, and I turn to Your testimonies, Lord. I am brother to all who praise You, friend and companion of all who fear and obey You. Creation overflows with Your steadfast love, my God. And You are generous to Your servant. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, as I trust in Your comands. Myu afflictions have pressed me closer to God, and I am blessed. Lord, Your law is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

God called me from my mother's womb onward; He has given me a sharp tongue, and has hidden me like a secret weapon in the cleft of His hand. He tells me I am His servant. He has redeemed me, Who is Master of everything! YHWH Sabaoth has given me a tutored tongue, to sustain the weary with a godly word. He has opened my ear, and I have listened and will obey. I will accept what God allows to befall me; I set my face to do His will, whatever comes. And I know that I will be vindicated in God's time. I say to the world, 'Bring it on!' For God is with me, and none can find me guilty. Let us walk by the light we have—mine is from God and His word. There is no other safe or reliable source of light and truth!

Paul was telling the Galatians something of his history: When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he showed hypocrisy. He had been eating with the Gentile believers for a time, but when certain men arrived, sent by James in Jerusalem, Peter drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. Many of the other Jewish believers followed Peter's insincere example—even Barnabas was misled by his error. But seeing all this, I confronted Cephas openly: 'If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?' I am also a Jew, not a Gentile, but I know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus the Messiah. I believed in the Messiah Jesus in order to be justified by this faith, and not by works of the law, which can justify no one. But if, in our endeavor to live as justified, we were found to be sinners, would that suggest that the Messiah is an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I rebuild those futile things that I tore down by putting faith in Jesus, I prove myself to be a transgressor. I died to the law through the law, that I might live unto God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not, cannot, nullify God's grace; if justification were through the law, the Messiah's death would have no purpose.

The Twelve, commissioned and sent forth in pairs by Jesus, cast out many demons and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. Herod heard of all this, and pondered. Many said that Jesus was John the Baptizer raised from death. Others said He was Elijah, or one of the other prophets of old. But Herod agreed with those who favored John, for Herod had beheaded John, after arresting and imprisoning him for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip, whom Herod had taken to himself and married. John had confronted Herod: 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But at first, Herod protected the prophet, knowing that John was a righteous and holy man. He listened to John gladly, though the prophet's words perplexed Herod. Finally, though, an opportunity came when Herod threw a birthday party for himself, and invited his courtiers, his officers, and the leaders of society in Galilee to a banquet. Herodias' daughter came before the party and danced. The group was so taken with her that the king told the girl to ask him for a present—anything up to half the kingdom. She asked her mother what to request, and on Herodias' advice, the girl demanded this of Herod: 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.' The king was very sorry; but because of his promise and the witness of his guests, Herod gave orders, and a soldier of the guard beheaded John in prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, who in turn gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard the story, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.