Living under God in this world

Monday, May 5, 2014 Devotions: Ps 9, 15, 25; Ex 18:1-27; 1 Pet 5:1-14; Mt 3:1-6 Lord, I thank You with all my heart; I will exult in You and praise You all my days. You have sustained my cause and blessed me. You have rebuked the unbelievers who oppose You and oppress me. I praise You, Master of all; You Are the almighty Judge of all creation. Those will dwell with You who do what is right and speak truth from their hearts. The character You foster is excellent: no slander, no evil-doing; no complaining against neighbors; honor given to those who serve YHWH; truth-telling and promise-keeping; abstaining from usury and from corruption. Those who live in this godly manner will never be moved. God, I lift my soul to You and put all my trust in You; I will not be ashamed, even if enemies exult over me, because the One God is for me. Make me know Your ways, YHWH; lead me in truth and teach me, God of my salvation. Do not hold my past sins against me; help me to know and to keep Your covenant and testimony. Pardon my immense guilt, Lord, for Your name's sake. I do fear You, and my heart inclines to You. Be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Guard my life and deliver me, Lord. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait upon You. Amen! Jethro, priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, visited the Israelite encampment, bringing with him Zipporah, his daughter and Moses' wife, and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. They had a heart-to-heart talk, and Jethro rejoiced for all the good which YHWH had done to Israel in delivering them from the Egyptians. Jethro blessed YHWH, exclaiming that His deeds proved that YHWH Is greater than all gods. And Jethro offered a burnt offering and sacrifices to YHWH, and Aaron came and ate with Jethro, Moses, and all the elders of Israel. The next day, Jethro observed as Moses judged the people from dawn to dark. Jethro pointed out that the process was exhausting and too much for one mortal to bear. He recommended that Moses represent the people to God, and teach them God's statutes and decisions—to help them know the way to live. And Jethro told Moses to select able, God-fearing men, worthy of trust and incorruptible, and place them as leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens among the people. These intermediate authorities would decide such matters as they were competent to address, and bring to Moses only those matters so great that they demanded his personal attention. Jethro concluded: 'If you do this and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure and all this people also will go to their proper place in peace.' And Moses took Jethro's advice, appointing leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. And Moses sent Jethro on his way home. Peter also exhorted elders in the Christian communities, 'as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Messiah, and as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.' His instructions: tend the flock of God in your charge; lead not by constraint, but willingly; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering, but leading by example. When the Chief Shepherd is manifested, you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. 'In the same way, let the younger be subject to the elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that He may lift you up in due time.' Be sober and alert: your enemy the devil prowls around like a ravening lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same suffering is required of all Christians throughout the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish and strengthen you. To Him be dominion for ever and ever. Amen.' Peter closed with personal greetings and blessings, and ended: 'Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.' John the Baptizer came into the wilderness of Judea, preaching repentance, 'for the kingdom of God is at hand!' He was the one Isaiah wrote about: the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.” John dressed like Elijah: camel's hair garment, a leather girdle, eating locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan river flocked to John and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.