A Devotional Look at the Book #504

A Devotional Look at the Book #504

by Jesse Abel

 

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

A young man sits in a prison cell for robbery; his first crime of thieving began at the age of five. Like it was yesterday he remembers well; that nickel he took from his father’s nightstand. Sin is always crouched at the door and we should rule over it! Genesis 4:7

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

Several men who read these devotionals are qualified submarine sailors, retired mostly; but some are on active duty. It is a real blessing for me to compare our submerged experiences with practical applications of God’s marvelous grace. For the submariner there is no greater command then to hear the Captain order the Diving Officer to; “Take her down!” These men represent a standard of excellence of life under the waters of the world that most peoples never see or experience, yet this is not why I like to write about them; or even remember them. These men are friends and they are men of God whom I have worshiped and prayed with. Imagine this: The depth of the submarine is far below a depth of five hundred feet; the silence is eerie except for the buzz of fear that is racing through your heart. Just a short time ago some other submarine fired a torpedo and we evaded it with devices of evasion. As brothers of Christ we band together and pray and a Psalm comes to mind. “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side; let Israel say – if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us. Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.” Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD who made the heaven and earth. Psalm 124.

2 Peter

2 Peter 2:1 – False prophets among the people; even as there are false teachers among you; we need to understand this statement; “What people” and “you” define two separate dispensations. One: the Jewish dispensation; the witness of the Law and the Prophets; and two: The Church dispensation; the Grace of God appearing to all future generations. Romans 3:21-24 and 1 Peter 1:9-12; Ephesians 3:1-7 and Titus 2:11-15. To disregard this division of God’s Plan is to deny the LORD, or to teach a dogma that is contrary to the revealed Truth which will bring about swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:2 – One could conclude that their teaching is okay since they are still vertical and so is their congregation but this term “swift destruction” does not readily apply to physical death; but it does apply to immediate spiritual loss; the same condition applies here, as God’s message to Adam in; Genesis 2:15-17. One of the evils we face as a teacher of the Living Word of God is; blasphemous statements. And, you would say; “I would never make a blasphemous statement from the Word of God while teaching or preaching. If we mix dispensations without defining our purpose, we are making statements that are blasphemous.

2 Peter 2:3 – People in positions of authority; church, corporate or municipal do sometimes covet their positions to the point of exploiting their congregations, employees and subjects by deceptive practices and words that sound correct, but in truth are nothing but confusing lies. So deceptive are these people that they are very pleasant to be around, but seek to know this. Their pending judgment is very active with each word they speak; in other words; God does not fall asleep at the wheel, while these teachers blaspheme His Plan by denying the LORD.