We live and prosper by faith, not by our merits

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Devotions: Ps 94, 97, 99; Num 16:1-19; Ro 3:20-31; Mt 19:23-30

YHWH, God of vengeance, rise up and shine forth. Recompense the proud as they deserve; shut their boasting mouths, silence their arrogance. Let the fools and dullards understand: God made ears and eyes; He sees and hears everything. He shapes and sustains the universe, so He also guides the affairs of individuals. He Is knowledge, and He Is our Teacher! Let use rejoice when the Master disciplines us—an expression of His care and concern. If YHWH had not been my Helper, I would soon have died; when my cares are many, God's consolations cheer my soul. YHWH Is my Stronghold, the Rock of my refuge, and He will wipe out His enemies, and mine. Let creation rejoice that God is our Ruler. The heavens proclaim His righteousness; let all peoples behold His glory. Let Zion rejoice, the Israel of God sing His praises: for You, our Lord, are Most High over all the universe. Light dawns for the righteous. Let us give thanks to Him and praise His holy name. He is the Mighty King, Lover of justice, worthy of worship; for YHWH our God Is holy.

A rebellion against Moses arose, led by Korah the Levite, Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On of the clan of Reuben. Two hundred fifty leaders of influence also joined them to confront Moses and Aaron. They demanded to know why Moses and Aaron claimed unique authority over the Lord's people. Moses fell facedown, hearing their claims, and spoke to Korah: 'Tomorrow morning, YHWH will show who is His and who is holy, set apart by God and for God. Do this: take censers, put fire in them and incense, and come before YHWH, and we'll let God decide who is His. It's you Levites who have gone too far! Listen: God chose you from among all the tribes to be His designated liturgists; you serve at God's tabernacle and minister to His congregation. Now you demand the priesthood as well. You murmur against God, not Aaron or me.' Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, but they refused his summons—they told Moses he had not fulfilled his promise to bring the people to the land of promise, and so they would not obey his authority. Moses was very angry and asked God to refuse their offering. And Moses charged Korah and those with him to take up their censers and appear before YHWH the next morning, along with Moses and Aaron. And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. 

Paul wrote to the Romans: No mortal will be justified before holy God by works of the law, since the law brings only knowledge of sin. Instead, now God's righteousness has been manifested apart from the law, though the law and the prophets bear witness to it: the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus the Messiah for all who believe. There is no distinction: all have sinned and fall short of God's glory; but all are justified by His free gift of grace, through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus, Whom God put forward as an expiation by His blood, to be received by means of faith. This demonstrates God's righteousness, because in His diving forbearance He passed over former sins; all this proves that at the present time, He Himself is righteous and at the same time, He justifies anyone who has faith in Jesus. So what comes from our boasting: it is prohibited because of the principle of faith. We argue that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law, for the true God is God of Jews and Gentiles alike—there Is only one God! And He will justify circumcised and uncircumcised alike, on the common ground of faith in the Messiah Jesus. Does this argument, then, overthrow the law; of course not: on the contrary, we uphold the law, as Jesus did. 

Jesus said to His disciples: 'It is very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven; it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.' The disciples were dismayed, and asked, 'Then who can be saved?' Jesus answered, 'With mortals, it is simply impossible—but with God, all things are possible.' Peter raised this: 'Lord, look: we here have left everything behind to follow you. What will be the outcome for us?' Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth: in the new world, when the Son of man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses or siblings or parents or children or lands for My name's sake will receive a hundred-fold return, and will inherit eternal life. But many who now are first then will be last, and many now last will then be first.'