Even in evil times, God Is at work

Wednesday, August 28 Devotions: Ps 12-14, 119:1-24; Job 6:1, 7:1-21; Acts 10:1-16; Jn 7:1-13 Lord, help me—I find no godly mortals: the faithful have vanished; everyone lies, with flattering lips and deceitful intent. Let YHWH cut off all lying lips and boasting tongues; let God arise and defend the poor. God's promises are pure and undefiled. Let YHWH protect and guard His people, as vileness is exalted among mortals. Lord, don't forget me forever! I know You are there, and I know that You exercise my faith by dimming my spiritual perception. Enlighten me, Lord, to see You and Your salvation! I will trust in Your steadfast love; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. I sing praises to You, God, for You have dealt bountifully with me. Only fools deny God's existence; they are utterly corrupt and do abominations. The children of men have no knowledge. But terror awaits them, when God bares His mighty arm; He Is with us; YHWH is the Refuge of His people. Let deliverance come to the Israel of God; when He restores the fortunes of His people, we shall rejoice! Job said: Mortal life on this earth is harsh; we live like slaves, enduring months of emptiness and nights of misery. I toss through the long nights and groan through the harsh days; my flesh is festooned with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then bursts open again. Please God: remember that my days are brief, my life like a single breath. So I cry out the anguish of my spirit; I pour out the bitterness of my soul. When I finally find sleep, I dream terrifying drams and visions. I loathe my life; please—let me have peace or death! Why trouble Yourself with us piddling mortals, God? Why put Yourself out to trifle with me? I can't hurt You. Why not pardon my offenses, then? I'm fading away, Lord; soon, You will seek me, but I will be gone forever. God arranges human affairs. In Caesarea lived a centurion of the Italian cohort; his name was Cornelius, and he was a devout man, fearing God, leading a godly household, offering alms to help the people, and constantly in prayer to the living God. About 3 PM one day, Cornelius had a clear vision: an angel of God entered his room and spoke: 'Cornelius!' He answered, 'What is it, Lord?' And the angel said: 'Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God Now: send men to Joppa and summon one Simon, called Peter; he is lodging with a tanner, also named Simon, whose house is beside the sea.' So when the angel had departed, Cornelius sent two of his servants and a devout soldier from his personal detail, telling them to do what the angel had directed. The next day, as theses emissaries were traveling from Caesarea to Joppa, Simon Peter went up to the housetop to pray, around noon. He was hungry, so the household was preparing food for the apostle. Meanwhile, Peter fell into a trance; he saw heaven opened and something descending: it was like a great sheet, let down to earth by its four corners. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. Peter heard a voice addressing him: 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat!' But Peter, as was his wont, first objected: 'Not so, Lord; I have never eaten anything common or unclean.' But the Voice said to Peter, 'What God has cleansed, you must not call common!' All this was repeated three times, and the object and its contents were taken up at once into heaven. Peter was perplexed about what all this signified—but behold! The men sent by Cornelius came to the gate of Simon the Tanner's house and called out, inquiring whether Simon Peter was lodging there. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit said to Peter, 'Look! Three men are looking for you. Get up and go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them.' Peter went down to the men and said, 'I am the one you are seeking; why have you come?' And they explained: 'Cornelius, a centurion and upright, God-fearing man, well spoken of by all among the Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear what you have to say.' So Peter invited the three in, as his guests. Dissension around Jesus was growing, and He no longer went around in Judea, because the Jewish authorities sought to kill Him. The Feast of Tabernacles approached, and His brothers said to Jesus, 'Leave here and go up to Judea, so your disciples there can see the works you are doing.' In truth, even His brothers did not believe in Jesus. But He said to them, 'My time has not yet come; but your time is always present. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. Go to the feast yourselves; I Am not going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.' And Jesus remained in Galilee. However, after His brothers had gone up to the feast, Jesus also went up—not publicly, but in private. The Jews were looking for Him at the feast, and the crowds were muttering over Him; some said, 'He's a good man!', while others argued, 'No, he is leading the people astray.' But no one spoke openly about Jesus; they were afraid of the Jewish authorities who opposed Him.