Life under God: what we face, how we live, where we're going

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 Devotions: Ps 45, 47, 48; Ex 32:21-34; 1 Th 1:1-10; Mt 5:1-16 My heart overflows with gratitude and praise to my God, and to my Lord. Jesus, You are the fairest and finest of men, and mightiest of captains. Gird your sword on your thigh, and ride forth in glory and majesty, victoriously. Your throne is everlasting, your courts fabulous beyond description. Let the church prepare for the King's wedding. Eternity is coming, and it will be glorious, by God's grace, love and power. Meanwhile, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. So we will not be afraid, despite the epic natural disasters—unspeakable earthquakes, landslides, floods, storms, tsunamis—or human devastation in drought, famine, warfare, pestilence, corruption. There is a river whose streams gladden God's city, His holy habitation. God is at her center, and she will not be moved; nations rage, kingdoms totter, empires fall; God speaks and the earth melts. YHWH Sabaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. So be still; know that I Am God, exalted among mortals, exalted over creation; YHWH Sabaoth is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Therefore, let all peoples clap their hands and shout to God loud songs of joy. YHWH, El Elyon, is terrible, great King over all the universe. He directs our destiny; sing His praises. Earthly power is subdued under God's almighty reign. Our God is highly exalted! Alerted by YHWH, Moses stormed down Sinai, carrying the first two tablets graven with God's words. Joshua heard the tumult and said to Moses, 'There is a sound of war in the camp.' But Moses replied, 'No, it is not the cry of victory or the tears of defeat; I hear singing—they're having an orgy.' Moses threw down the tablets and they shattered. And Moses addressed Aaron: 'What did this people do to you, that you have brought a great sin upon them?' Aaron tried to deflect the blame: 'You know them well; the people are set upon evil. They demanded that I make them gods, saying they had no idea what had become of you. They gave me the gold in their possession, I threw it into the fire—and this calf came out.' Moses saw that Aaron had lost control and the people were rioting, to their shame amidst their surrounding enemies. So Moses stood in the camp gate and shouted: 'Who is on the Lord's side? Let them come to me!' The sons of Levi rallied to Moses; and he directed them: 'This is what YHWH the God of Israel says: 'Let each man put on his sword and go throughout the camp. Let every man of you slay his brother, his companion and his neighbor.' The Levites obeyed, and about 3000 men were slain by the sword that day. Moses said, 'Today, you have ordained yourselves for YHWH's service, each at the cost of his son and his brother, so that God may bestow a blessing upon you now.' The next day, Moses addressed the people: 'You have committed a monstrous sin; now I will go up before YHWH; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.' So Moses returned to YHWH on the Sinai summit, and said: 'Alas, this people have sinned a great sin; they made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if You will, forgive their sin. And if not, I pray You, blot me out of Your book.' But YHWH said to Moses, 'Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book.'' But as for you, go now and lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. And behold: My angel will go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I ill visit their sin upon them.' Paul, Silas and Timothy addressed the church in Thessalonica: Grace and peace to you . We thank God for you always, constantly mentioning you in our prayers. Before our God and Father, we remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfast hope in our Lord Jesus the Messiah. Brothers and sister whom God loves, we know that He has chosen you; for our gospel came to you in power and the Holy Spirit and in full conviction, not merely in words. You know the sort of men we have proven to be among you. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, convicted of your sins before God, and with joy breathed into you by the Holy Spirit—in this manner, you became an example to the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. And word of your faith has gone further than this—everywhere, so that we have to say nothing further. The people all around report concerning us what a welcome we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a true and living God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead: Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath to come. Great crowds were following Jesus, so He went up on a mountain; when He sat down, His disciples gathered around Him, and He opened His mouth and began to teach them: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.