Faithful God transforms present strife to eternal glory

Saturday, April 12, 2014 Devotions: Ps 42, 43, 137:1-6; 144; Ex 10:21-11:8; 2 Cor 4:13-18; Mk 10:46-52 My afflicted soul longs for You, God, like a parched stag in the desert. I'm in pain, body and soul, dry and empty. I'm ashamed of my condition—as a servant of the Most High, I should be serene and full of joy. So why, soul, are you so cast down? Get on God's wavelength! I need to let God's depths call out to my own; I need to know that I have God's steadfast love; that my God is faithful. I will hope in God and praise Him as this day opens around me. Vindicate me, O God; I take refuge in You. Send out Your light and truth, to lead me home to my God, my Helper and Redeemer. In this world, it's easy to sink down and weep, remembering Zion and the goodness of God. How can I sing God's songs in this enemy-occupied territory? But God: if I forget you, let my instrument rust and waste away—I am a voice for you in this wilderness, and I need to remember that You Are with me, and this temporary exile will end in joy and triumph. Blessed is YHWH my Rock, who trains me for the spiritual battles around me and ahead of me. Lord, we mortals are passing breaths, puffs of air in Your eternity. Come to me again today, great Lord, and help me sing a new song to You; let Your love wipe out the stains, sins and lies of this passing world. As Pharaoh continued to resist YHWH and His messengers, God directed Moses to stretch out his hand over Egypt, and a tangible heavy darkness fell over the land for three days—except in the land where the Israelites lived, and the sun shone there unhindered. Pharaoh tried to change God's terms: he told Moses the Israelites could go and serve YHWH, but without their flocks and herds. Moses refused--'not a hoof must be left behind; we need our animals as sacrifices to our God.' And again, Pharaoh's hard heart refused God's command. Pharaoh said to Moses, 'Leave me and take care: the next time you see my face, you will die.' And Moses, uncowed, replied, 'As you say! I will not see your face again.' Then YHWH told Moses: 'I will bring one more plague, and the king will surely let you go. Tell everyone to ask their neighbors for silver and gold, and I will influence the Egyptians to give them to you.' And they did, for Moses had great stature in the eyes of the Egyptian people and courtiers. Then Moses announced: 'This is what YHWH says: About midnight, I will go forth in Egypt's midst; and all the firstborn in Egypt will die, people and livestock alike. A great cry will rise up across the land; but no threat will befall the people or livestock of Israel—so that you may know that YHWH distinguishes between Egyptian and Israelite. And all these—previously your masters, now your servants—will come and bow down to me and tell me to depart with all the people of Israel.' And in hot anger, Moses left Pharaoh's presence. Paul continued instructing the Corinthians: We have the same Spirit of faith as the Psalmist who wrote 'I believed, and so I spoke'. We also believe and so proclaim, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us with Him and bring us all together into His presence. All I do is for your sake, so that as God's grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we don't lose heart. Our outer nature is wasting away, but our inner nature is being renewed every day. This slight, momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look to things that are unseen, not to those that are visible. Visible things are transitory, but the unseen things are eternal. Jesus and His party were headed to Jerusalem. And as they passed through Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus sat beside the road. When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout, 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!' Jesus stopped and told those nearby, 'Call him.' So they called to the blind man, 'Take heart; get up; He is calling you.' Bartimaeus threw off his mantle, jumped up and came to Jesus. The Lord said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' And the blind man said, 'Master, let me receive my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well.' Immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight, and he followed Jesus on the way.