Live wisely by steadfast faith

Monday, June 9, 2014 Devotions: Ps 56, 57, 64, 65; Eccles 7:1-14; Gal 4:12-20; Mt 15:21-28 Lord, be gracious to me and protect me from hostile men who would destroy me; my trust is in You alone. I praise Your word, and in Your grace I find perfect refuge. Even if men and demons conspire against me, I am secure in Your holy love and steadfast faithfulness. My God keeps close watch; He numbers my heartbeats; He keeps my tears in a bottle. I know this: God is for me—so what can mortals do to me? I give You thanks, Lord God. Forgive my sins and iniquity, and be merciful to me. God Most High fulfills His purpose for me and puts to shame those who seek to damage me. YHWH, be exalted above the heavens; let Your glory shine over all creation. My heart is steadfast, my God, and I stir my soul to sing Your praises. Your praise fills all creation, and Your glory shines across the galaxies. Let the righteous rejoice in God's power and righteousness, and let the evil perish under His justice. Praise is due to You, our God! Blessed are members of Your family, whom You protect, redeem and deliver. You care for all You have made, and crown the year with Your bounty; nature abounds and sings Your everlasting praise. The Qoheleth wrote: A good name is better than precious ointment; a good death, better than an auspicious birth. All the living presently will die; let the living lay this to heart and be counseled by awareness of our mortality. Sorrow is better than laughter; a sad countenance makes the heart glad. The hearts of the wise abide in the house of mourning; fools live in the house of mirth. Better that we hear the rebuke of the wise than the praise of fools. Fools' laughter is vanity, like the sound of thorns crackling in the fire under a cooking pot. Oppression instructs the wise and vigilant, while bribes corrupt the mind. The end of a thing is better than its beginning. Be slow to anger; for anger takes up lodging in the bosom of fools. Don't ask why the old days were better than now—that's not a question wisdom would address. Wisdom is very good; a great advantage, a great heritage for the living. Wisdom protects better than wealth; wisdom preserves the lives of those who possess it. Ponder the works of God; none can make straight what He has made crooked. Celebrate your days of prosperity; and ponder this in your days of adversity: God made both, so that mortals may not find out anything that will exist after their mortal lives are done. Paul wrote to the Galatian believers: Brothers and sisters, I beseech you to become as I am, as I became like you You did me no wrong; you know I preached to you first because of a physical ailment; and though I was ill disposed, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as if I were an angel, a messenger of God, as the Messiah Jesus Himself. Now what has become of your former satisfaction? I can tell you, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me back then. So, have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Others make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out of the Lord's circle, and they want your adulation. It's good to be praised and admired, but only for real virtue in character and action. My little children, for whom I am again suffering the pangs of labor until Christ be formed in you: I could wish to be with you right now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, and a Canaanite woman from that region came before Him and cried out, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord Son of David: my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.' But Jesus did not say a word in reply; and His disciples begged Jesus to dismiss the woman. Then He said, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' But the woman came closer and knelt before Jesus, saying, 'Lord, help me!' He said, 'It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she replied, 'Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus spoke directly to her: 'Woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed at that instant.