The Devotional - A Look at the Book #638

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #638

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #638

Meditate on this!

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; John 17:20-28 If you have believed in Jesus, then He has prayed specifically for YOU. Read the context and find the oneness, the glory, the love and His desire for you in time and eternity.

Thoughts about Life

Yesterday morning I was making a purchase in a local bakery. I like the aromas of fresh baked pastry, don’t you? As I was waiting for the order to be completed a mom brought her to young boys in for their weekly morning treat. Immediately their young faces were plastered to the glass case and with eyes wide open they scanned every cookie, tart and chocolate éclair. Mom stood behind watching and I said; “these are precious memory moments for your children, as I see my grandfather and me in your boys; and she nodded. My heart found its way back to a five year boy, when most Sunday morning he would be with his grandfather, walking to the German bakery in our neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. Chocolate and cherry kuchen was the standard order for my poppy and we would hurry home for some of the best Sunday mornings of a young child’s life. The young girl with her children allowed the boys to pick whatever they wanted and it seemed that the oldest boy (at least I thought so) looked to me for approval on his selection. I gave a little nod and he smiled, the smaller boy said that he wanted the chocolate, chocolate and by interpretation from his mom, it was the much larger chocolate muffin with chocolate frosting which he and his mom would share. Maybe it is because I am aged, but there are no greater moments in time, then to see people enjoying family life and oh yes; I missed my grandfather that morning. At the time I think he was younger than I am today. What a hoot!

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 11-15 – How does a person charm a snake, most of us will run in the other direction and have you noticed; we do the same thing if we see a babbler coming in our direction. Babblers are different then the wise man and I am sure that you have noticed this as well. The wise measures his words with grace, he also uses his words to comfort, too give purpose and too open or close off communication when the topics become worthless. However the babbler is a keen fence straddle, he knows how to make sounds that sway the hearer and poison the moment. Proverbs 4:14-19

Verses 16-20 – There is nothing new under the sun, but it does seem that humanity as a whole has missed the boat on this. We tend to think that because we have the “android” the “I-pod” and the “pea-pod” that being under the sun is different for us. Absolutely; not so! Our governors and leaders curse the land they control by coming in late and feasting long, using assets that belong to the land. A people at work in large numbers will be a blessing to a governor; but many out of work are his curse. Proverbs 14:28 

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #637

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #637

Meditate on this!

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:7-11 Knowing God by His Love.

Thoughts about Life

We will be getting back to the Ukrainian trip, I am just waiting for a few incoming details about the trip before I continue. I was thinking about a statement I read by the Evangelical Center of Buffalo, NY; a Russian/Ukrainian Ministry. “We have come this far by faith” The ministry is celebrating 100 years of serving the LORD. There are several of these ministries in the United States and around the world. The nearest ministry to us here in Connecticut is the Russian/Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Union (RUEBU) located in Ashford, CT. The ministry houses retired pastors, teachers and other professionals of Russian and Ukrainian nationality. They also house other elderly people based on availability and they host churches that would like to have retreats, conferences and camps. Also they have a full service cafeteria, bungalows and barrack type housing for weekend groups. When I worked in Ashford I met Steve and Sally who at the time were the assistant directors. We had opportunity through them to use the facility on several occasions. The Baptist Union as it is commonly known reminds me of the Christian Servicemen Centers that minister to the military around the world. It is in ministries like these that my faith found anchorage. Yes; we have come this far by faith, but I know that faith will not stop at the doorstep of death. The transition from life to death and life again will be; “I know my Redeemer lives for I shall see Him as He is.” Job 19:23-29; Hebrews 6:11-12 and Hebrews 9:27-28.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 8-10 – Here the king of Israel gives us an insight to his work ethics… he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. In a nearby town there is a government training center to teach people how to labor. Now I know that the center is more than just teaching men and women how to dig holes and fill it again, but at first I would joke about the center in that way. The training center is actually teaching folks how to cleanup after a terrorist attack and other natural emergencies that we face daily.

So a good king with a strong government will establish the guidelines for survival. Digging holes, splitting wood and keeping tools in good repair will keep injuries to a minimum and it will bring success to each task because wisdom is involved. However; too much government over these details of life is not good. This is just good common sense for most of the folks my age have grown up with these abilities since our fathers and grandfathers have taught us.

I am convinced that there would be no need of Homeland Security (now I am not talking about the military; we need a strong military) but this: If fathers would be fathers and mothers would be mothers to their children there would not be abortion clinics or pro-life care net centers. There would not be schools where each child is searched for concealed weapons, there would not be on an epidemic scale legal and illegal drug abuse. God, family, discipline and integrity: the cornerstones of life have been rounded off to a liberal interpretation that is much like the proverbial snowball gathering speed, size and strength. The crash is imminent and you just may be there to see and feel the crash.

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #636

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #636

Papa “J” May Say

Some of the most professional people I’ve met are volunteers, they ask for nothing; but give much! Therefore these folks do not need much; yet a Thank You would be nice!

Thoughts about Life

I thought we should take a break from this trip this morning since I am preparing to leave the house soon. We have a development in one of our towns that is catching a lot of light. It seems that a local police department is being discredited by some cultural activists that the police department has singled these folks out and harass them; however if you watch this unfold as the media tells it, I simply wonder who is doing the harassing? The group of people who in many cases do not speak good English, who travel in unregistered vehicles and do not have a driver’s license feel that they are targeted or singled out wrongly by the officers. Even the political officials are being attacked for their comments. I wonder… if I said I was going home to have a hamburger for supper; would some Texan send me 500 hamburgers in sort of an in your face reaction to prove that I was harassing him for my impromptu remark. What are we doing with all of this nonsense? As Americans, we are in a life or death battle for freedom, not with our soldiers who are made to fight wars against what we term as terrorism; or evil; but there is another more fierce war that cost the American more than his or her tax dollars, but our very homeland.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 5-7 – Dead flies in the perfume, folly in mans heart instead of sound wisdom, foolish gestures on every street corner and a government that is failing too man the post. Words spoken these days are in hast and without proper content, therefore there is no healing message in the land or community. These errors surface in the messages of the rulers, but it is by far the fault of the citizen, since we the citizen have become like the sluggard or the slothful found in Proverbs 6:9; 12:24; 12:27; 13:4; 19:24; 24:30 and 26:16.

If you have been to the Capital city you will see much history, all of which is laced in the Living Word of God. Verses of scripture on the buildings and statues, Statesmen of the past with testimonies of faith in God and valor above and beyond the calls of duty and honor, but today this dignity takes a back seat, our national heritage is viewed as ERROR while the real ERROR proceeds from the mouth of current leadership. Yes there is nothing new under the sun, but this does not mean that the sun should go down on this nation and when the sun comes up on the morrow that the moral of the story should be any different than the promises of our forefathers.

If we do not return to the grassroots of this nation, you can count on seeing the rich sitting in lowly places while the servants ride horses on the streets outside Churchill Downs. Like horses belong in places where horses belong; simply meaning that… servants have a place of belonging too!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #635

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #635

Papa “J” May Say

Psalm 128:1 states this: Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. This would not be a blessing of the moment or of the hour. It is the result of living in the abundant life, promised by Jesus Christ. John 14:12-18

Thoughts about Life

The teen was very quiet and did not want to talk, but eventually I said. “Why did you change seats”? He explained that his elder wanted to talk with the man that was seated next to me and that he was sitting next to the elder for most of the trip. “I see!” but in by mind I was thinking that my friend was either under conviction or just got tired of talking with me. Our last meal before landing came. “I watched the teen as he apparently did not care about the blessing of the rabbis. He began tearing open his packages. I could not contain myself, “I see that you are going to eat that sandwich and I notice that rabbi So-so is not someone is of your faith, my friend of earlier would not eat that”. The boy looked stunned; then at me and the sandwich, he was apparently hungry. I thought that maybe it was a blessing in disguise that he was forced to set away from the group so I said. Hey, so who’s watching… go ahead eat it and give me the wrapper. If anyone says anything, we will just tell them that I ate it”. He smiled and in three bites the first half of the sandwich was gone, he gave me the crackers which were blessed by the same guy, but he ate the rest of his meal. Other than this I did not have much conversation with the youngster and he seemed content with that. The plane landed, but I do know that the Jewish group was bound for Russia and we did not see them again.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 3-4 – Have you ever played the fool? I know I have and if you are not willing to lie to yourself you will say; “yes” as well. This does not mean that you are a fool; it just means that you know how to be one. The one who practices foolishness is one who shows everyone he meets that he is a fool. The scripture clearly states that the fool says in his own heart that there is no God and Psalm 14:1 goes on to say that these folks are corrupt, doing abominable works and experience nothing good. The verse in Psalms actually establishes the perquisites for being a fool. One: no fear of God; Two: Everything done by them is corrupt; Three: They are an abomination to everyone around them; and Four: They are not capable of doing any good, so everything done by them is classified as EVIL. 

Fools are found in all walks of life; they rule over nations, over cities and towns. They are found in the market place, on the street corners and even in the gutters. This does not mean that all of our rulers and governors, or professionals are fools, It simply means as you well know that a fool can be found anywhere you place your foot. The fact is, that the state flags with the snake and the words… Don’t tread on me” are tracked heavily these days with the footprints of fools. Solomon says: “don’t give up the ship, stand your ground and that healing is available. Be like Nehemiah who rebuilt the Jerusalem wall with a weapon in one hand a hammer in the other and a prayer in his heart.

We need and army of Nehemiah types! Why? Because the fool’s cry of there is no God is getting louder and louder in this land of the free. Many are following the fool’s damaging footsteps on our soil, on our flag and our future. The liberal sounds of the times sound good and as we have heard many times. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #634

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #634

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #634

Papa “J” May Say

A short term missions trip could be seen as a vacation with a purpose and maybe it is for some. However; the LORD Jesus in the back drop of Eternity, did not take a vacation in coming to earth. Need we say more? John 10:10

Thoughts about Life

I admit that the thought of writing out a need or request and placing that request in some religious book or commentary seemed to me a bit off the mark. I determined to zero in on my friends religious efforts and began asking him how he might like to have a better and more personal relationship with God. His answers were in line with his theology; God is the Creator and controller of time and He has no personal relationship with people. Bad things happen to good people simply because God is not concerned with any one individual’s health or trauma. So I asked him; “who then extended the life of Hezekiah’s by fifteen years when he became sick” and what about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son who suffered trauma at a young age. (2 Kings 20 and 2 Samuel 4) The references supplied here but not on the plane. My friend did not have an answer, so he excused himself and became involved with a conversation with some of his people. Also it was time for more prayer and more bobbing and weaving. When this prayer session was over my friend did not return but sent a younger (teen) to sit in his seat next to me. We are only three hours from Kiev at this point.

Ecclesiastes 10

Verses 1-2 – Literally Solomon says that “flies of death” putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and this reminds me of the freshness of the air we breathe. The purified air on a submarine is healthier than the fresh air when the sub is surfaced and the hatches are open. The fresh air will even have a foul odor to the sub sailor who has been breathing purified air for a long period of time. Likewise; when righteous people behave with foolishness, their honor and integrity becomes an open target for the flies of death and an odious stench will develop.

Being right handed or left handed is not the issue here, but integrity is. That is, if you are right handed and try to toss a ball with your left hand you will be less effective in sending the ball to the intended destination. So it is with honor and integrity; we know what is right and what is wrong. Never let your weak hand know what your dominate hand is doing and you will not be foolish in your dealings with mankind, or God. Matthew 6:1-4 the deeds of the Spirit and the flesh are evident too the world around us.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #633

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #633

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #633

Papa “J” May Say

A day without Jesus in it… is a day that does not exist if you believe in Jesus. How sad it is for those whom we know and love and who do not know Jesus; since for them He does not exist. Ephesians 2:11-13

Thoughts about Life

My friends’ testimony was filled with good works; he was so good by outward expressions and appearance that I felt uncomfortable sitting next to him; sort of like a sailor in rough seas with a hatch open. I privately asked the LORD for help while he was off praying with his group. When he returned I asked him why he prayed and his explanation was that he was required to pray at certain times each day. During our flight his group prayed for a good fifteen minutes about every three hours; as I recall. “What do you pray about, safety?” “No, we have a set of prayers that are repeated daily.” And I was reminded of other religions which have similar rote systems of prayer. I said; “does God answer these ceremonial prayers?” and his reply was; “one day He will!” I said: “don’t you ever have a need or a concern about some issue that only God can help you with and don’t you pray to Him for that matter?” Again; “no, our rabbis teach that God is not concerned with our personal needs.” “Well then, how are your needs fulfilled since I believe that God meets all of our needs, personally.” He then, shocked me with this statement. “we have books written by the rabbis, if we need something important enough we write out our need on a slip of paper and place in somewhere within one of the books. We leave the note in the book for twenty four hours and then we read the note and the two pages that the note is in; whatever those two pages tell us that will be sufficient to meet our needs. “You must be joking?” was my reply and he was offended; “no I am quite serious” was his reply. Does this work? I said. Sometimes we have to move our note to another section, but eventually we get our answer.

Ecclesiastes 9

Verses 13-18   – Where is wisdom? Can you see it on the face of people, or is it a tangible object that can be held in the hand? Wisdom only shows up when the smoke clears and in every case it shows up in the oddest place. Like the wisdom of the poor man in this section who delivered the city from the great king who came against it. Solomon does not say what the man did, which is not important. What is important is that the poor man who had no offensive resources, used what he had, which was all he needed. WISDOM!

Solomon says that used wisdom seemed great to him; many have wisdom but do not use it. A little city and a great king besieged it, surrounded it and set up road blocks so that no one could leave. Have you ever felt trapped and found a way of escape? If you have then you know that at first, you did not use strength to get away or voice; but thought. You used your mind and the wisdom from your frame of reference too form a plan, then with the materials and strength available, you made your way of escape. For wisdom to work it must be used first.

The fool is just the opposite of wisdom, he vents his anger, he rants, he raves and even makes noise with his feet. All of this action avails nothing except hoarseness of voice and painful hips and joints from stomping the feet. While the words of the wise are spoken quietly and powerfully, even Solomon says that the words of wisdom are more powerful than the weapons of war. This is all good is it not, but there is one obstacle. Sin destroys much good. Just as the death of Abel destroyed the works of Cain his murderous brother in Genesis 4:1-7

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #632

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #632

Papa “J” May Say

Personal faith is not how one lives according to the Law of God; although admirable as this may seem! Personal faith is how one responses to the faith of Jesus Christ who is the pathfinder to God! John 14:6; Galatians 2:16; 20 and Hebrews 12:1-2

Thoughts about Life

After our meal my Hebrew friend was as interested in my faith in God as anyone I had met. We sort of had this jockeying for who’s going to be first in giving testimony about our relationship to God, so finally he said. “You should go first and I will be quiet and listen”. I gave my testimony of personal belief in the work of Lamb of God who took away my sin and identified the Lamb as Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. This of course is condensed, since I really want us to see how this Jewish person viewed his relationship with God. First, he explained that he followed the traditions of his mother’s family. How his mother taught him from birth to follow the faith of the rabbis. Several who had long passed away but their writings were preserved and passed down through the ages. He lived in a protected community where this religious zeal was routine. He said that his prayer and work was daily directed at serving God; therefore his deeds were good and not evil. I asked him if he read the Bible or other Hebrew writings then those of his rabbis and the answer was surprising. “No”! Have your read the New Testament. “No”! I have not”. I said; “how then do you know God, if you do not read the Old or New Testaments”? “We read approved sections of the Old Testament as you put it and our rabbis teach us all we need to know about God” was his reply. At this point our conversation becomes intense, so more tomorrow.

Ecclesiastes 9

Verses 11-12   – Ever feel like you are in a pickle barrel floating in the current of the Niagara River? At first, it must be a pleasant ride bobbing along peacefully, but as the falls get nearer the rapids increase and the turbulent waters begin to make you feel as if you want to barf. When that passes fear begins to grip your mind and your grip on the barrel causes your knuckles to turn white; your eyes bulge and even though it is cold, you sweat.

This is the way of life; is it not? Most all of as young people feel as if we are too swift to be caught, too strong to lost the battle; too wise to faint from hunger; too much understanding to go bankrupt and have lots of skill to overcome every obstacle. Well, there is some truth in this since some folks are very good at what they do, even at a young age. What was that young actresses’ name? Oh yes! Shirley Temple. (Thanks Louise) Yet the one factor that is always overlooked is – time and chance it is the crippling factor that is seldom thought of until the barrel goes over the falls.

So then, mankind can never anticipate this time that Solomon calls evil. Why is that? Can we not see where we are going and make the necessary changes? The answer is that if life were only physical, then we could say yes and get away with it. But life is not just physical; it is also spiritual and that part belongs to our Creator God, who can and does at times He selects calls for our soul to return to Him and our physical body has no control over His command. Speaking of the spiritual and physical; Solomon says this in Ecclesiastes 3:21. Also see 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 as we prepare for another day.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #631

by Jesse Abel

Papa “J” May Say

Can I have another shot at this one today? Looking at things from the top down or the bottom up is a process of understanding for most of us; in this way we see the bus and get onboard, yet; by either view a transfer is often needed… God’s challenge: Proverbs 2:1-9

Thoughts about Life

At first our conversation was light; you know the weather the flight and things like that, but by the time our first meal arrived we knew our spiritual identities. The first thing I noticed is that his tray of food was different then the one I had. He was studying his products carefully, reading all the labels. He sorted his food, most on his left and some on his right; the curiosity got the best of me. “What’s with that?” and he said. “Our food is specially prepared because we must eat kosher” “yes I understand” I said; “but why do you separate”? He said “The rabbis that bless the food on my left, I do not recognize them as Jews of my faith and will not eat that food”. All that was on his right side was an apple and a package of cookies. We ate, and before the steward returned, I asked my friend for the food on his left which looked better than the meal I just ate. He said; “sure” so I ate and let me say that the kosher food, even though it was not considered kosher by my new found friend; it tasted kosher to me. But “Ooyi” what do I know; everything I ate in flight that day tasted blessed of God and I truly seek His blessing rather than that of a man. 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Ecclesiastes 9

Verses 7-10 – Wow, this section fits appropriately on the plane to Kiev. Solomon clearly understands the effort of living under the sun. Go ahead he says eat drink and be joyful in the process. God has already accepted our works! What did you say Solomon? He said; “God has already accepted your works” Oh! Did you mean that everything I have done or will do is already evaluated by God, then; I should just throw in the towel and live accordingly? No! Not at all!

Here is an example: an automobile is a contained unit to do a specific thing. In the containment the vehicle is equipped to go from one destination to another. But the automobile is not a self contained unit, in order for it to be useful, we must add fuel, oil, water and other chemicals to make it go from point to point. Now I did not miss the most important additive… the human driver. If the automobile could go from point to point without the human element (the industry is working on that) then the automobile would be perfect. Such it is with life under the sun! As a human additive we have messed up God’s perfect plan.

Notice what Solomon says in verse 10; whatever you find to do and put your hands on; do it with all your might! Now there is a statement that is missing in most of the “how too” books these days. Even quoted psychologists miss it. “Oh dear friend, your upbringing prevents you from wisdom, knowledge, work or enjoyment of life… so just eat this pill, mellow out and go to your grave, pouting along the way.  

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #630

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #630

Papa “J” May Say

Looking at things from the top down or the bottom up is a from of understanding for most of us; in this way we feel we do not miss the train as we lag behind, nor ran over by the express train that never stops where we are standing… get it? Proverbs 4:7

Thoughts about Life

Yesterday I said all of that so that I could research the message for today. On board with our group of eight were twelve to twenty Orthodox Jews from Brooklyn, NY. I had the wonderful opportunity to be sitting next to one of the middle managers of that group. It was not long before we began to talk about our beliefs. He was a follower of Rabbi Kushner, he and his companions were on a pilgrimage to Russia to visit the grave sight of another Rabbi who along with other Rabbis of Orthodox Judaism followed. I was able to share the LORD Jesus with the man, but the web of religion ran historically deep within his tradition and training. If time permits and my memory permits, I will give as much detail as possible. The stories that transpired with him during this trip were awesome. Every couple of hours the group would gather near the rear of the aircraft and pray, rocking back and forth as you might see at the Wailing Wall at the Temple Mount. The things I have to say will not be in chronological order since there is nothing in my brain these days that is chronic other than a lack of categorical memory. More tomorrow as it is near the time for our first meal on the plane.

Ecclesiastes 9

Verses 4-6 – Today while you are alive you will share in the rewards of life; have you ever looked at life that way? You have the reward in front of you that one day you will die; do you look at this event as a reward? Of course, if you have ever watched a comedy/drama called “Monk” on television, his gift of solving crimes could be classified by him at times as a gift or a curse depending on the obstacles he faces. So then the reward of life from his perspective is found in the wave of his hands; sometimes from the top, sometimes from the bottom, sometimes from the rear and sometimes from the front. But our Creator has a better plan. Proverbs 3:5-6

What are the obstacles of daily life? Knowing that one day death will come; knowing also that the dead know nothing about this side of living forevermore. This can frustrate the mind knowing that love ones and enemies will begin at your departure too replace your memory with other folks who are still vertical. Your share of the reward of life has ceased. So what should or what can be done? Can we do anything about the reward of living? NO! But we can to something about the reward of dying. John 11:17-27

Everything under the sun is alive but temporal because it is subject to death, so it is simple really, if you live this life for the reward of it… you lose; big time. Living this life for the reward of eternity, Matthew 16:24-28 and being a disciple of Christ is not a reward based on the standards of time; notice how Jesus puts it in Luke 10:17-24. Don’t you just love the written Word of God?

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #629

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #629

Papa “J” May Say

No, I have not seen anyone intentionally eat a slice of Apple pie upside down. Thoughts like this make me wonder why we allow illegal aliens to overturn our culture. Proverbs 25:11

Thoughts about Life

So on July 04, 2004 off we flew to Ukraine, as I recall the flight was long somewhere between 8 and 10 hours and this gave us time to get to know some of the people who were seated next to us. The funny thing is that if you know me I am always running my mouth about something. This for most folks is a turn off I think. No doubt I must sound like a know it all, but I enjoy talking and if I know of a parallel to a subject at hand I will usually want to say a thing or two. I have tried to control myself and be a listener but it does not work and it seems that I am the only one who has learned to live with it. Of course this is not an excuse to be intentionally abusive and I hope no one takes it that way. As I have said before, I love words and people and I especially love the Word of the Living God; and don’t you know! You always talk or write about the things and people you love. Now what does this have to do with flying off to Ukraine? Good… solid question! I reckon we will just have too come back tomorrow; that is if the LORD tarries and find out. Will the flight is a long one! Proverbs 25:13 is much the way I view the things I say.

Ecclesiastes 9

Verses 1-3 – Counseling and considering what is counseled is a daily involvement of life; well for most people that is. Some folks are very narrow in counsel since all of what goes on revolves only around them and their purposes. For these types they seem to excel because they are takers, rather than givers. To give a clue here; Ecclesiastes 4:12 will help since Solomon says that, all of the works of man are the result of the Hand of God therefore one work cannot excel over another. Matthew 20:1-16

The events of life; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 happen to everyone… the good the bad and the in between; now you thought I was going to say ugly didn’t you, but I did not want to include myself so I left it out! However we are all subject to life and if there were not those who rub us the wrong way in life we could handle it; right? Well, for the person who affects us that way, there is someone whom you affect in the same manner; it is just the way it is.

Solomon says that this is an evil which brings up another interesting thought in my mind. Is evil sin? The answer is: NO! Just as good is not sin. So under the curse of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, sin is developed under the sun. The good that someone does causes evil to develop in the heart of another and the result is sin. Just as the evil that someone does causes the good in someone else to judge wrongly and sin develops. Good and evil exist side by side, but praise God… Jesus died for ALL SIN resulting from the knowledge of good and evil. Romans 7:13-25.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #628

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #628

Papa “J” May Say

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote: “Sooner or later in life, we all sit down to a banquet of Consequences.” God gives us His version… “although the knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.” Romans 1:21a

Thoughts about Life

On the trip over I was assigned as an overseer of the baggage and sort of the go too person for security. Everyone went through customs without a hitch and I was the last to go through. The group was off to the side behind me waiting for me to clear; there was a pause by the person checking my bags. She sort of stared at my bags on her screen and then began rummaging around through my clothing. I said; “whats up!” she said; “we have a problem… you have bullets in your bag and I cannot find them” my reply was… “your joking right!” “No, not at all” and with that she turned the screen so I could see what she was looking at. Two bullets were visible. These looked at the moment as large as canon shells. The group behind me moved further away. A larger more stern man arrived, I said after finding the bullets tucked in a side pocket. “whats the worst that can happen” “I can send you home”. Tell me why you have the bullets and I will tell you if your going on the plane or home. To this point I could not remember anything about the bullets; then it dawned on me. My father had died a couple of years before and my brothers and I had divided his military souvenirs, the bullets were part of that. I had to turn the bullets over to that man, then I was allowed to board with the group. It is funny how that information reached the church back home before the plane got off the ground for Kiev.

Ecclesiastes 8

Verses 13-17 – When the wicked flee no one pursues him, yet the righteous of the land remain bold as a lion; (could this be the vanity that Solomon is talking about?) Proverbs 28:1, but let us look at verse two of Proverbs 28. I see that too much government in this land is not because of socialistic rule, but of national sins ruling over man. This is serious; Solomon says that it will not be well for the wicked, so the question is: do we who stand in these moments of history have a proper fear of the LORD or do we enjoy hiding in the shadows of the wickedness of sinners?

Is this country we live at a cross road? Rampant immorality and homosexuality have reached alarming stages in our communities. Even anarchy dominates our social calendars, greed and injustice has become the norm and the innocent ones cannot be found. There is hatred of God all around us. When I mention God to those who I worked with, there is an immediate surge of self condemning words from those who hear but have no fear.

The protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for most peoples of this nation is at a standstill. This has nothing to do with jobs, prosperity or any excuse you can throw at it. The fault lies in a serious breakdown in the family. Fathers failing to be fathers, mothers rejecting their children and the natural human affection has caved into the outward expressions of people who hate God and get away with it. This to me is the reflection in the mirror, the vanity mirror if you will.

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #627

Papa “J” May Say

The sun that shines on national prosperity is the same sun that shines on national decadence. To the first God is glorified in Creation, to the second these are the wise fools of Romans 1:18-22.

Thoughts about Life

One thing I remember right from the start of our training was the cultural differences of the United States and Ukraine, now you might say that this is routine and really not worth mentioning. You know for example; things we classify as superstitions; the black cat crossing your path or walking under a ladder. Well one of the things that really bother most Ukrainian people is open windows. There are plenty of windows to cool off the house on a hot day, however most of the folks would rather keep the windows shut and remain in the heat, In this way they keep the evil spirits from entering their homes. So we were instructed to ask first too open windows and if we did another window would be opened on the other side of the house so that the evil spirit could not find a resting place and take up residence in the home but would be blown out the other window. Things like this are serious and if you plan on going to any foreign country, it is always good to learn of the customs first. I sometimes think that we give little thought to others and their ways and in our effort to present the gospel of Jesus Christ too those who by national decorum need to see that Jesus loves them by His standard of love rather than our invasive and sometimes thoughtless action. Acts 17:16-34

Ecclesiastes 8

Verses 10 – How many funerals have we gone to in life where there has been some doubt about the person in the coffin and their relationship with God? I have been to many since most of my family are unsaved; using my father as an example as I know that he went to church on occasion, that is; as one would classify going to a place of holiness. But in the city or any crowd of gathering, he is forgotten, in other words; beyond the four people of his remaining family, no one else knows or remembers his time on earth and he passed away only ten years ago. Vanity? Yes!

Verse 11 – The evil work of man has a sentence imposed on the work even before the man or woman can develop it. The scripture plainly states that the judgment or justice of God already abides on all deeds of mankind, what ever it is. John 3:16 and John 4:36. So the sentence on all deeds good or bad do not have to be executed speedily; but when the coffin lid shuts (so to speak) the one inside already knows his or her eternity from the second their eyes close in death and judgment or justification is rendered.

Verse 12 – This verse along with many in Ecclesiastes helps me to like the man; Solomon since he is always ready to tell it like it is. Today many believers claim to be down to earth (under the sun) but few are. They flaunt their self-righteousness and claims to be there for the long haul; but when the rubber meets the road so to speak they are nothing more than saved sinners who cannot prolong their days with their empty promises and there is no fear of God in their eyes.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #625

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #624

Papa “J” May Say

Today is one that needs a kick start… no the battery is charged, sleep was good and on the surface everything is a go to submerge into the day, but there must be a hatch open somewhere!

Thoughts about Life

One of the periodicals I receive on a quarterly basis is the Evangelical Baptist Herald. It is published by the RUEBU (Russian and Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Union). Over the years we have had met with these folks a few times. One of the most noted events was a retreat that involved several of us from church who were going to take a short missions trip to Ukraine to help a folks build a church. I will spend the next few days putting together some of the events of the training and experience of this trip. The first thing I would like to say is that several folks who went with me on the trip read this devotional including the Ukrainian pastor’s son, Alexander… so Sasha if the bus is ready (and it always is) I will be looking for a ride or two from you to help me remember names and towns as we go on this journey. Have a great day in the LORD folks, for what is a day if the LORD is not in it?

Ecclesiastes 8

Verses 8 – One day soon we will all meet the LORD, either by physical death or by the rapture of the saints at the end of the church age. Now I know that most of you covenant theologians get the hiccups when us dispensationalist talk about the translation of the saints but bare with me we do not want you to miss the bus either since it is always ready and like the bus we must be ready to move. Alexander, his friends call him Sasha would make sure we were ready to role each morning when the bus arrived, so I tie this in with the message and you will see the exclamation again and again… in other words Jesus is coming again and we are getting the bus loaded with His saints.

If we could contain our spirit then we could control life and death as Solomon says, but God has not given us that power. This is God’s call on every soul He creates. Too elderly people we are readily aware of the approaching weaknesses we have as we face the power of death. Now this is not morbid as some would like to say. The fact is at least for me… it is exciting. God has enlisted us in life, we are born into being. One day the enlistment will be over, we will not be discharged from service like some military person. We will be delivered!

Delivered from what to what? It is simple really… only if you are born again (John 3:1-16) you will experience the deliverance worthy of God’s glory. Note the last words of Ecclesiastes 8:8. “And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it” Wow, now that is clear isn’t it. If you are righteous because you believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God who died and rose again for your salvation you have power from God. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, just listen for the trumpet.