God's Way

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Devotions: Ps 30, 32, 42, 43; Deut 7:17-26; Tit 3:1-15; Jn 1:43-51

Lord, I praise You, for You have lifted me up and kept me from the taunts of my enemies. Let all His saints praise our God and thank His holy Name. Weeping may stay the night, but joy arrives in the morning. My prosperity is in God my Savior, and Him alone. You have made me a mighty mountain, Lord, when in my own virtue and strength, I'm a molehill or sinkhole! Let YHWH be my Helper. You have turned my mourning into dancing, and set me free. How I love You, my God! Happy are all whose sins God has covered and forgiven, to whom the Holy One imputes no iniquity. I acknowledge my sin and sinfulness to You, and You forgave me. You Are my hiding place and refuge, Mighty Lord. Teach me in Your ways. Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in YHWH; let the upright shout His praises! Lord God, my soul thirsts for you; let me come to You and feast on Your presence. Let my soul be not downcast, for I hope in the true God. His deeps call to my own, and I glory in the thunder of His might and the kindness of His mercy. God my Rock: You do not forget or forsake me. Thank You! Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause. Send forth Your light and truth; let them lead me to Your holy presence. I approach Your altar quaking with awe and filled with praise, my God! How I praise my help and my God. 

Moses exhorted the Israelites: Don't be afraid of those arrayed against you. Just remember how God overthrew the Egyptians and led you forth—the wonders of His mighty hand. He'll do the same to all who oppose you now. He will drive out the stragglers; a great and terrible God is with you. He will clear away the nations before you little by little, giving you time and space to take over this promised land. You will survive; they will disappear. Burn their idols; don't be ensnared by their gold and riches-­it is abominable to the Holy God we serve. Detest and abhor what God has cursed. 

Paul wrote to Titus: Remind the believers to be submissive to appointed rulers and authorities; to be obedient, and to accept honest work. Speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show courtesy to everyone. We ourselves were fools once, disobedient, led astray, enslaved by various passions and pleasures. We wasted life in malice and envy, hated and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us—not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus the Messiah, our Savior, so that we might become justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. This is absolutely reliable! Insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may devote themselves to good works, for they are excellent and profitable to mortals. Avoid study controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law—these all are unprofitable and futile. If you encounter a factious person, try once or twice to admonish him to amend his ways; but after that, if he persists, have nothing more to do with him; you can be sure such a person is perverted and sinful. He is self-condemned. Help the believers; teach them to apply themselves to good deeds; this aids the needy and makes us fruitful as well. Grace be with you all!

Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, 'Follow Me.' Philip was from Bethsaida, the village of Andrew and Peter also. Philip found his friend Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the One of Whom Moses and the prophets wrote; He Is Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.' Nathanael was not convinced; 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' he countered. Philip said, 'Come and see!' Jesus noticed Nathanael as they approached, and spoke first: 'Behold, a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile.' Nathanael asked, 'How do you know me?' Jesus said, 'Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.' Nathanael, convinced, said, 'Rabbi, You Are the Son of God! You Are the King of Israel!' And Jesus answered him, 'You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these! I tell you most truly, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.'