Godly life takes self-discipline

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Devotions: Ps 34, 85, 86; Num 12:1-16; Ro 2:12-24; Mt 19:10-20

I will praise and thank the Lord without ceasing. He Is my praise, my one prize and goal. Let us magnify the Lord together. He has delivered me from all that I fear; let me never be ashamed. YHWH hears the cries of our hearts, spoken or not. His angel protects me on all sides. Happy are all who take refuge in the Lord of hosts. Fear Him alone, you saints; those who seek YHWH lack no good thing. Let me teach you, then, properly to fear the Lord; that is the way to abundant and eternal life. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it ceaselessly, for our Lord is always attentive to the righteous, and always opposes the wicked. God redeems the lives of His servants; none who take refuge in Him will be condemned. Lord, You forgive the sins of Your people; restore us again, Savior; put aside Your indignation against me. Revive me, Lord; show me Your steadfast love, your unmerited favor; give me Your salvation. Let me hear now what God says; He speaks peace to His people; His salvation is at hand for those who turn to Him in their hearts, so that glory abides in us and in our territory. God unites steadfast love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace. Answer me, Lord; I am poor and needy. Gladden the soul of Your servant, O Lord, hear my prayer; I call upon You because I need Your help and Your love. There is no other god, Lord, only You. You Are great and almighty; You alone Are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth. I give thanks to Your, Lord God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. Show me a sign of Your favor, and put our enemies to shame as You help and comfort me. 

Miriam and Aaron murmured against Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. YHWH noted their complaints, and He called the three siblings to Himself, outside the camp. He met them at the door to the tent of meeting, and said, 'Hear Me: if there is a prophet among you, I, YHWH, make Myself known to him in a vision, and speak to him in a dream. Not so My servant Moses: with him, I speak face to face, clearly, and not in figurative speech. He alone beholds the very form of YHWH. Why then are you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?' The Lord's anger was kindled against Aaron and Miriam; and He departed. When the pillar of cloud had left the tent, Miriam was leprous, white as snow. Aaron spoke to Moses, 'Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let our sister not be as one who is dead, whose flesh is half-consumed even at birth.' And Moses cried out to YHWH, 'Heal her, O God, I beg You' But the Lord said to Moses, 'If her human father had spit in her face, she would be shamed seven days, wouldn't she? Let her be shut up outside the camp for seven days, and then she may re-enter the community.' The people stayed in that campsite until Miriam's exile was completed, then moved on to the wilderness of Paran.

Those who sin apart from the law will perish without the law; and those under law who sin will be judged according to the law. It is not hearers of the law, but rather those who actually obey the law, who are righteous and justified before God. When Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, nevertheless behave in accord with the, they are a law unto themselves; what the law requires is written on their hearts, as their righteous conduct shows; and their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or excuse them on that day when, as my gospel says, God judges the secrets of mortals by the Messiah Jesus. You who call yourselves Jews and rely on Torah and boast of your relationship with God—you who claim to know His will and approve what is excellent because you have been taught Torah, and who think you are able to teach others: will you not accept instruction yourselves? You say, 'Don't commit adultery.' But do you commit adultery? You abhor idols, but do you not rob temples? You boast in having the law, but you dishonor God by breaking the law. It is written, 'The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'

Jesus's disciples were alarmed by what He had said concerning adultery and divorce: 'If it is as You say, it is not expedient for a man to marry.' But Jesus said, 'Not all mortals can receive this saying—only those to whom the gift of chastity is given. There are eunuchs made so at birth, and those whom other people have castrated, and then those who have foregone their sexuality for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let those receive this teaching who are able to receive it.' Next, a man asked Jesus, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life.' Jesus replied, 'Why ask Me about what is good? There is only One Who Is good. To enter life, just keep the commandments.' The man asked, 'Which?' And Jesus answered, 'Don't kill, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't bear false witness, honor your parents, and love your neighbor as yourself.' The man said to Jesus, 'All these I have observed; what do I still lack?' And Jesus said, 'If you would become perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and then come, follow Me.' Hearing this, the young man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions and would not part with them.