We must live by God's authority

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Devotions: Ps 20, 21:1-7, 110:1-5; 116, 117; Sir 3:17-31; Acts 28:17-31; Lk 9:37-50

May YHWH answer in a day of trouble; may His name protct me; may He send help from His sanctuary and give you support from Zion; may He give credit in the day He takes notice. May He Be my heart's desire, and may I receive Him. May He shape and direct my plans, and then fulfill them. Lord, how I long to celebrate in Your name—but I am desolate, set aside, of no account. I know You answer prayer. Father, I pray for productive work, and the faith to believe You love me and will bless and protect me. Some boast in military might, economic power, personal charisma—but I will boast only in the Name of YHWH my God. Let me have Your victory, Lord. Your word assures me that I will not fail if I lean on You. Make it so, I pray! The Father has said to my Lord Jesus: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool. YHWH reigns amid His foes—and He Is High King, High Priest, Captain of God's hosts, Bridegroom—All in all, King of kings, Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega. Our Lord Is gracious and righteous, merciful and mighty. Deliver me again, as You have done in days past, O Lord, from death, tears and stumbling. I lift up my praise and thanks to You. Lord, I too am Your servant, son of Your handmaid. Praise be to You, O God! Let all the peoples, all the nations, all creation praise the Lord!

Yeshua ben Sirah wrote: Son, perform your tasks with meekness; then those who belong to God will also love you. Humble yourself more and more; that is the path to godly greatness (and great godliness). God's might is glorified by the humble, but demeaned by the self-righteous and self-important. Don't delve too deeply; be content to rest in God's sufficiency and wisdom. Keep to your own tasks, your own affairs; take no decisions that may endanger others; stubbornness and impulsiveness are dangerous folly. Pride is incurable affliction; be open to wisdom—hold firmly only to God and God's truth. Whoever requites favor gives thought to the future, and at the moment he is falling, he will find support. Amen, Lord: may it prove so!

Luke concludes the Acts of the Holy Spirit: Upon arrival in Rome, Paul called together the leaders of the local Jewish community and explained his situation to them. They expressed interest in hearing Paul's message. So he expounded his gospel to them for a full day; some were convinced, while others disbelieved. Paul concluded by saying, 'The Holy Spirit addressed your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah: “G0 to this people; tell them, you will surely see, but not perceive; for their hearts are dull and their ears are heavy; they have shut their eyes, lest they should see, perceive, hear, and understand—then they would repent, and I would heal them.” Now then, know this: God's salvation is also sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen.' Paul lived in Rome for two years, at his own expense; he welcomed all who came to be with him; he preached God's kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus the Messiah openly and without hindrance.

A day after Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, in the presence of Peter, James, and John, a great crowd met the Lord as they came down. A man in the crowd begged Jesus to attend to the man's son, who was convulsed by a spirit which the other disciples had not been able to cast out of the boy. Jesus replied, 'Faithless and perverse generation, how long must I be among you and bear with you? Bring your son to Me.' The demon tore and convulsed the boy as they brought him before Jesus. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy and returned him to his father. Everyone present was amazed at God's majesty. Meanwhile, Jesus spoke to His close disciples: 'Let these words penetrate deeply:the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of mortals.' But at that time, they could not comprehend what Jesus was describing. Soon, they began to bicker among themselves as to which of them was the greatest. Perceiving this, Jesus took a child and placed the child beside Himself, then said to the disciples, 'Whoever receives this child in My name also receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him Who sent Me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great.' John replied, 'Master we say a may casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.' But Jesus answered him, 'Do not forbid him; for whoever is not against you is for you.”