The Devotonal - Looking at the Book #564

The Devotional - Looking at the Book #564

by Jesse Abel

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Psalm 119:28 – A fallen countenance in the heart can result from several reasons, but when grief enters the soul... there is only one source of revival or rest – The Living word of God! Matthew 11:28-29

Good Morning

The temporal circumstances of the elderly seem permanent and it is depressing to have the feeling that nothing will change. That there is nothing to look forward to and that nothing in life matters anymore. Some of the elderly people I have worked with in the past have these thoughts going on in their minds, continually; this is a maddening oppression that keeps pushing forward; driving them deeper into a mentally depressed condition. If this condition does not put them in the grave; they become bitter so friends and relatives avoid them and the downward spiral of loneliness and separation deepens. If they could only know that Christ has regarded that helpless condition and that He shed His own blood for their soul, they would find peace and purpose for being elderly. Sometimes I get the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, but not often. When I do talk with elderly of salvation and witness to them about the LORD Jesus; I notice at least two significant road blocks. Elderly people who have nothing much to do, will momentarily hardened in their heart to hear the gospel. Like a moment of hardening as found in Hebrew 3:8. Their mind is full of distraction caused by the fear of the world which has replaced their fear of the LORD. Second: Even though they have little to do; their mind races against the sound wisdom of the Word of God and they have no peace in their aggressive heart; which is a progressive hardening like that found in Ecclesiastes 8:10-17.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 – Some of my happiest times growing up is when we had little but gave much. Some would say that the depression of our early years caused this. If you have opportunity to watch the rerun episodes of Walton’s during this time of their life you will notice that out of their deep poverty; they were a happy people. Family love; neighborly compassionate and hard working people who gave out of their poverty all that they had to keep going; they are a true story of having all things common.

I do not know what you think of giving, but I do know this; if you have experienced the joy of giving as these Macedonian people did; then you know the church of Jesus Christ and His saints. Again we see the great trials and afflictions of this temporal life. This life is hard and every time we reach for some personal asset to share with God or to give to another human being by the grace of God; we know that we are going beyond our ability to do so. Yet, we do go beyond, not because we are commanded too from scripture; we go beyond because we have first given ourselves to the LORD.

So by the Will of God we reach out to others in order that we might abound in every way; in faith, in speech, in knowledge and in love. We do this so that grace will abound to all we come in contact with. Now have we seen this sort of giving of ourselves before in this epistle? Yes, the theme is found in 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, but the apostle reminds us of this grace throughout the epistle.