by Jesse Abel
A Thought for today by Papa “J”
Our freedom as a nation is in trouble! I write… “Our freedom as a nation is in trouble” Did you read what I wrote? “Our freedom as a nation is in trouble” he or she that has an eye to read… so let him or her read! OUR FREEDOM AS A NATION IS IN TROUBLE. We have become a nation of fools. Psalm 14:1-3.
Good Morning
The other day I was in Vermont and needed to stop in one of those rest areas that are numerous in that state. What struck me the most was the excellent condition of the building and the cleanliness of every room. I felt comfortable and safe as well so this allowed me the freedom to move around without the feeling of being unsafe. As I looked at the pictures of Vermont landscapes and prominent buildings I heard a small commotion of young people who were busy setting up a table and small display. They had three large boxes of apples of which two were placed under the table and the third one was placed on the table. A little sign on the table read; Vermont Apples – enjoy! I watched some people walk by the display… finally a young lady selected one and took a big healthy bite. The crisp crunch caught the attention of others and one by one people were selecting their favorite apple and the crunching became like that of walking on dry leaves on a cool autumn day with one exception. There was also an audible… ummmm! With the first crunch. Yes! I decided I needed one of those apples too! I also thought that it was right neighborly for those Vermont folks to do that for people they did not know or would even meet. Immediately I felt, a down home warmth that I only knew of when I was a boy growing up in Kentucky and I thought! Where has all of this love of country gone? What have we done as a nation? I returned to the car weeping for a country whose countenance has fallen. Fallen even like that profile of the Old Man of the mountain (Mount Cannon) some years ago. Pray for our nation and for God to deliver us from evil. There is a simple prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 that you no doubt know by heart; but do not pray in a rote manner… pray sincerely, from the heart! God will hear and respond.
2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 8:8-15 –We think that we are something special don’t we? I mean; we seek a little self esteem over an issue or two from time to time. You know; like I did this or that; or this happened because I made the right decision. But have you also noticed that it does not take very long until someone comes along and tests the sincerity of those seemingly selfish statements, then the truth is exposed in that our selfish deeds are nothing more than sinful acts of poor judgment.
The life of Jesus Christ is the template that we should be willing to place over everything we do, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor. Jesus became poor in order that we might become rich. Can we get hold of this truth by faith? Does our heart comprehend this thought at all? Christ Jesus who is rich traded this richness for sinless flesh and became poor, in order for us poor people to become rich. Philippians 2:5-9
There is such a large disconnect in our sinful nature over the matter of giving back to God what He already owns anyway; that we fail. We fail to accept His promises, we fail to experience perfect love, we fail to do His Will because we place fear in front of our steps of faith, we limit an atonement that is unlimited. Note the whole chapter of Matthew 25:1-46 and note that the kingdom of God is not selfish. When this millennium is set up by the LORD the selfish people will not be there.
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