A Devotional Look at the Book #489

A Devotional Look at the Book #489

by Jesse Abel

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #489

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Those who are saved know immediately that the work of getting into eternity is over. They also know that it is not their works of righteousness that made salvation possible. Titus 3:5. So are you working or resting? Hebrews 4:1-3

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

If you are a military person; you might be found saying things like! “I eat, drink and sleep the military way of life, or; my life is not my own”. The men and women in any branch of the service are told when to get up, when to eat, when to work and when to go out and take time off. Often a young “boot” will drag into his or her navy experience some of the old civilian habits he or she enjoyed only to find a reprimand by some disciplined “salt”; “No sailor, you cannot do that in this man’s navy… do it again and face a captain’s mast”. There are seventy one verses of scripture in John 6 and the apostle starts out with the discipline of faith. It is not about the miracles of feeding the five thousand or of Jesus walking on the sea. It is all about the regimented discipline of faith. Notice John 6:5-6 and John 6:19-20. Then Jesus begins to explain that our resource for living in time with eternity in our heart; is Jesus Christ who is the bread of heaven. Not that we physically eat Him (that is not possible); but that He is our source of Spiritual nutrition. How did Jesus in His humanity live His life? He lived it; “by faith” which is a spiritual resource of nutrition for eternal life. Hebrews 12:1-2. God has a discipline for those who are alive in Christ. Hebrews 12:3-11. Discipline also works as two edged sword; God uses His Word to discover the things we drag into our relationship with Him and He sends us to Captain’s Mast for correction. Hebrews 4:11-13. Also read: John 6:60-71. He also uses the other side of this sword for blessing with words like those found in Romans 1:16-17 and Hebrews 6:9-12.

1 Peter

1 Peter 4:7-11 – There are many so called evangelicals who believe that the end is not near and to put it bluntly: “this is a serious matter”. Why? Simply because of passages like this one found in 1 Peter 4:7 to be watchful for the end and pray. 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 24:42; 26:40-41 and 1 Corinthians 16:13. I know that some of these verses do not focus on the return of the LORD, but here is the point. The church (that is the called out ones) are to watch and pray, to be alert and not sleep. There are many sleeping in Christendom these days.

Isn’t the Word of God great? I feel like Tony the Tiger here; “Love one another fervently” notice the apostle under the authority of the Holy Spirit says above all else to have love for one another. Simply put the apostle is saying that there are many (a multitude of things) that can distract us from our Spiritual and disciplined faith. However, if you place love for one another above these sins of distractions, then you will not be distracted. Seek out the ministry of each others gift and stewardship with one another in this grace.

So it really is not about our short comings or long goings; these earthly things distract from the manifold grace of God. Whatever a person does in the power of God brings glory to Him and blessing to His saints since the Holy Spirit focuses us eternity in time and not time as a whole. Those who minister do so in the power of God which He supplies. Likewise he who speaks must use the whole counsel of God in order that God receives the glory. Glory belongs to God and blessing belongs to His Saints. The end of all things is at hand, God say this… not man; therefore be SERIOUS to this end.