by Jesse Abel
The Devotional
Papa “J” and his thoughts?
This Proverb does not mean that wisdom is not found in the scoffer, it means that a scoffer never finds the easy path of understanding used like the one who does not scoff. Proverbs 14:6
Recently we studied the “one another” passages that challenge us to move away from the things that hinder our walk as disciples of Jesus Christ. There are many passages that challenge us to look to the other person, to place a higher esteem on others, rather that putting ourselves first. These many passages fall into a least 24 categories. Maybe when we finish Hebrews the LORD will open the door for this as a study project. In the meantime as we close out Hebrews and the Year 2010, I would like to challenge us all to consider what it means to; esteem the other person better than you esteem yourself, since this is the basis of the “one another” passages. The passage of scripture that my statements will be founded on is; Philippians 2:1-4.
We have been talking over the last few months about; Grace, Faith, Hope and Love. To the secular world these words are known but are not practiced. Did I hear many of you say... hogwash? Take a moment and watch some of the newsreels rolling today. It is the last day of the year so many media outlets are expressing the various events of the past year. Most of what you see is bloodshed, injury and death by the hands of human against human. In all these we see the selfish greed of SIN. Sin? YES, sin! Here are some of the sins we see daily on the news. Abortion, same sex marriages, murders, abuse of every kind. Robbery and scams of every conceivable kind. Cheating, maligning, adultery and babies born out of wedlock. These are just a few of the SINS of the world and we have labeled most of them legal, or molded our society to accommodate them as normal human actions of grace, faith, hope and love. Let me tell you if you've not already guessed. This is the “HOGWASH” fed to most of us and we chow down on it with a greedy selfish heart, like that of a mad hog.
All of the so called natural disasters are shown as people coming together to assist one another. But this is not the one another of God, because the media clearly points out that mother nature is the cause of the disaster and God who allows nature to go beyond the laws of safety is ignored. This maybe good, since under the authority of mother nature, one cannot even get mad at God, if one might be inclined to do so. Besides the secular world works grace, faith, hope and love to the back side of their pants pocket where the wallet is found. Notice the millions of dollars spent to repair the broken hearted and wreck the economy.
Two Thousand Eleven begins a new decade for us, so I leave you today with this challenge. If there is any encouragement found in the Christ of the Bible, whom I am always seeking to share with you. If you have found any comfort in His love, if you have tasted of the goodness of His grace through the fellowship He has offered through His Holy Spirit and if you have been affected by His affection and mercy for YOU. Then fulfill my joy by beginning to be minded like He is. Begin to be one another minded with purpose, cast away those things that make us sinful and SELFISH. Stop letting your self ambition destroy your relationships with others. Reorganize your mind to include others needs and place them ahead of your own. Humble yourself before God and man and know that God loves you. Paraphrased – Philippians 2:1-4.
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