The Devotional - A Look at the Book #571

A Devotional Look at the Book #571

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Psalm 119:33-40 When I sin, my heart is bent over in darkness by the sins weight, my strength is absorbed with this thought! Ah, but the testimonies of the LORD overcome me causing me to long for Him. His are many, but two stand out here; Mercy found undeserved forgiveness and the Grace received by undeserved blessing.

Good Morning

The very first ship I was on was a radar picket ship, called the USS Searcher (YAGR-4), the primary mission of ships of this type was early warning of approaching enemy aircraft during the so-called cold war of the sixties. The ships were first used as freighters in WWII. The hull was thin, cheaply put together and designed to make only one trip across the ocean, the return was not expected. During the war and due to the fear of submarines only twelve men manned these vessels and many were sunk. The maximum speed for these ships was eleven knots, or 17.5 miles per hour so for a submarine these vessels were like sitting ducks. After the war some of these ships were converted to radar picket ships and a large amount of space on board was wasted. Large holds or stowage areas were sparsely filled, making large movie theaters or exercise room, even pool tables. One of the open holds was converted into a swimming pool. One summer day I saw the pool being filled, as a new person on board; I thought, man! This is great, I even went in search of my Navy issued swimmers, after my return topside and to my surprise, I saw the Captain come out on deck in His swimmers. The Chief Master at Arms was with him, but the Captain was the only swimmer for about a half hour while the Chief stood guard. When the Captain left, the swimming pool was emptied; but several of us new seaman on board were allowed into the pool… but not to swim. We cleaned it; chipped away some of the rust and repainted it so the Captain could use it again some day in the future. Some sailors have all the fun, huh!

2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 10:1-5 – Does the Living Word of God excite you? Sometimes I get so excited about God that I can hardly contain myself. Here is what I mean… and I am sure this has happened to you. Sharing and fellowshipping with others brothers and sister about the LORD can get us all charged up. We experience the same excitement that the apostle Paul is explaining here is these few verses.

Then it seems of a sudden that you hear another say; “oh that group with him or her in it is just walking in the flesh” well if there is one thing that will pull me out of fellowship with the LORD and with other believers it is some remark like that and then I do want to reach out and be bold, but not in a spiritual way. I like what the apostle says. “I have a confidence to be bold toward some.” Ever felt that way…? Of course you have; but it is the next verse that puts things back into the context of 2 Corinthians 4:7 (I really like this verse, don’t cha think?)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. The truth is that all battles won are won based on the weapons given to us by God which are not weapons of the flesh. Proverbs 6:12-19 identifies the flesh. The spiritual war that believers face daily is won with the mighty weapons of God for the pulling down of strongholds, for the casting down of every high thing that seeks to exalt itself over the knowledge of God. God does this daily for every saint by bringing them to obedience; the obedience of Christ. NOTE: even our fleshly obedience does not count. We must be willing to utilize the treasure of God excellent power in these earthen vessels.