A Devotional Look at the Book #495

A Devotional Look at the Book #495

by Jesse Abel

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #495

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Want to break up a crowd of people? One police officer carries a monastic alb with a hood. In a secluded area he dons the alb over his uniform and then looking like a religious monk begins asking for donations. In most cases the crowd disburses within minutes!

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

Dawson Trotman founded the Navigators in 1934; his ministry today reaches out to many military men and women. At the age of 49 he wrote a little book titled, “Born to reproduce” His message was to reach one person at a time and truly this is still a popular approach to sharing Jesus Christ with others even today. Dawson gave his life rescuing a girl who was drowning in Schroon Lake. The girl survived but Dawson went home to the LORD that day on June 18, 1956. The person who spoke at Dawson’s memorial service said; “I think that Daws has personally touched more lives than any other in our time”. That man’s name is Billy Graham. In 1965 when I was an unbeliever, I was standing in a friends’ home in Oahu, Hawaii; my friend Tom was introducing me to his mom and dad who had come for a visit. Tom was a Sergeant in the Air Force and he was saved which I knew but did not understand. Tom’s father said; “excuse me Jesse but I need to watch the person on the television. His name is Billy Graham; I believe he is the last prophet this world will see before the return of the LORD”. I did not have a clue as to what he was talking about, but today if I could I would be able to rejoice with Tom and His father who are both gone home to the LORD. Here is the point… it is not the men and the women of our past, who certainly played major roles in bringing us to Christ. The point is that we all have the same ancestral roots. We have the same Father that Jesus has. 1 John 3:1-3

1 Peter

1 Peter 5:7-11 – One thing that I have had to do with this epistle; which is something I should be doing all of the time is re-reading portions that I have already made comment of. I am surprised at what is missed, so I have taken to promise myself to back read and forward read rather than going verse by verse. We seem to use this 1 Peter 5:7 passage as a catch all for all that we care about including aunt Suzie’s “Q”. But I think the verse is not that general.

As believers we suffer through a lot of sanctification that can raise major concern. You know; like God calls me a pilgrim and like the nation Israel my ancestors of faith are scattered all over this world. I wonder sometimes about them. God says too; that I have an inheritance, I wonder if it is gold, silver or wood and hay! God says I have a walk, a maturing walk with my Father, how am I doing? This walk consists of obedience to Him, to government, to my boss, to my spouse and on and on the apostle Peter points these things out as being a part of the whole in what he has entitled; Suffering for Christ.

Thus I am thinking that our aim should be like that of Peter, casting these cares on Him because these are the things He cares to develop in us as a crown of glory that does not fade away. Then he warns us to be self-controlled and watchful. That suffering for Christ is spiritual battle and Satan will attack when the guard is down. And since we are pilgrims these same things are happening to our other brothers and sisters all across the planet. These are the tears that God Himself protects because He cares for YOU! Even so; Come LORD Jesus!