A Devotional Look at the Book #510

A Devotional Look at the Book #510

by Jesse Abel

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Even though a person like Sir Thomas Moore describes the peaceful existence of an Island called Utopia; the place does not exist on earth or in the heart of mankind. However; God who created the universe and your soul will personally give you peace as a gift of His love. Romans 5:1-5, Why? Because Romans 5:8 applies.

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

Sandbank and Dunoon Scotland are located in the area of Scotland called the Firth of Clyde near Holy Loch. Both small towns are within the walking distance of 2.5 miles. While serving on submarines in the late seventies I made several trips in and out of Holy Loch. Our ship was assigned to SUBRON 14 (Submarine Squadron Fourteen). Sandbank was the little town that most of the sailors would go to for liberty, but many hiked the distance to Dunoon as this town was much larger. I was a young believer in Christ at the age of 35 and was interested in finding a church that knew the LORD. During our own Bible studies and prayer time we looked to the LORD to help us find such a place and before long, one Sunday we walked into an old church building because the music coming from inside was familiar. “A child of the King, a child of the King; with Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King” Folks; it does not matter where you are on this earth, if you seek the Father’s family you will find them. You will find them in the Word, in prayer and in fellowship. When you meet and speak with them they will forever be written in your soul as brothers and sisters of Christ in you; the only true hope of glory. Colossians 3:10-11. These three truths of God and His saints are the same truth that has motivated the Church of Jesus Christ for two thousand years; the same truth that the apostle John shares with us in 1 John 1:1-4

2 Peter

2 Peter 2:18-19 – Do you remember that earlier we said that false teachers use the same criteria to deceive people as Satan does and we referenced 1 John 2:15-17. Here in this verse we see this deception again with the added adverb; licentiousness. Sometimes I wonder why this seems to happen to people who seem to be pillars of faith. If you look at the last couple of decades, names will come up of pastors and teachers who have fallen.

My thoughts are satisfied by this: Counseling people who are rescued from the licentious and lascivious actions of the unbelieving world is serious and spiritual. The battle is no battle at all if the person who counsels is a slave to any of the corruption that the one being counseled is seeking to find victory over. Two similar bondages will merge and the deception grows greater for both to overcome.

2 Peter 2:20-22 – I like the example that the apostle uses here; “pollutions” we walk about in air pollution everyday and our immune system, liver, kidney and lungs take the brunt of this pollution. But over time; blood, asthma, liver and kidney diseases develop and the health goes south. So; on the spiritual side of Life in Christ, if we are weak because of our personal relationship to Jesus, or the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Like the revolt of the blood, lungs, the liver and the kidneys there will be a spiritual revolt that does not end well. We have a responsibility to stay pure and holy; if we do not; our leadership and ministry is doomed; meaning that as a dog returns to its own vomit and a sow having been once washed. Will as both do… return to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 1 John 2:1-27. I believe that the apostles Peter and John are writing on the same subject. Anti Christian conduct!