Live as citizens of God's kingdom

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Devotions: Ps 72, 119:73-96; Lev 19:1-18; 1 Th 5:12-28; Mt 6:19-24 Lord, pay out Your justice to the Son, the King over Your kingdom. May He judge with righteousness; may He defend the poor and deliver the needy; may He crush the oppressors. May His life endure forever, and His dominion extend over all the universe. May all mortal rulers bow to Him, and prayer rise to Him constantly. May His people prosper and His enemies perish. Blessed is YHWH, God of Israel; may His glory fill all creation, forever. Lord, Your hands made me, and You gave me understanding to learn Your commands. I know that Your judgments are right, and Your law is perfect. May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame. In Your steadfast love spare my life, that I may keep the testimonies of Your voice. Your word is fixed forever in the heavens. I am Yours; Lord, save me! YHWH continued instructing Moses concerning right conduct in God's community: Revere your parents; keep My Sabbath. Spurn all idols, for I Am your God Your peace offerings must be consumed on the day they are offered, or the next day at the latest. When you reap, leave the margins for gleaners; likewise, don't strip the vines or trees when you harvest—leave something for the poor and the sojourners. Do not steal, nor deceive, or lie to one another; do not swear falsely. All these offenses profane the name of YHWH your God! You shall not oppress or rob your neighbor; pay your hired laborers promptly; don't withhold their money even overnight. Do not curse the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. Fear your God: I Am YHWH. Do no injustice in judgment; show no partiality to poor or to rich; judge in righteousness alone. Do not slander or witness against your neighbor. Do not hate your kinsman; reason with him and seek to persuade. Take no vengeance, and bear no grudge, against your fellow citizens. Love your neighbor as yourself. I Am YHWH. Paul concluded his first letter to the church at Thessalonika: Respect those who labor over you in the Lord and admonish you. Esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. Admonish idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Never repay evil with evil; instead, do good to everyone. Rejoice always; pray constantly; give thanks in all circumstances: this is the will of God in Christ for you. Do not quench the Holy Spirit; do not despise prophecy—but test everything; then hold fast to what proves good. Abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; may your spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. He Who calls you is faithful, and He will accomplish it all! Brothers and sisters, pray for us! Great all the believers with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord to see that this letter is read before all the community of believers. The grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with you. Jesus mountainside sermon continued: Do not lay up treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume thieves break through and steal. Rather lay up treasures in heaven, where nothing corrupts or damages and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also your hearts will be. The eye is the body's lamp; so if your eyes and your sight are sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how profound is that darkness!