The Devotional - A Look at the Book #621

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book #621

Papa “J” May Say

The ship’s navigator is responsible for the position of the ship even when the ship is anchored; so too, we who are anchored in Christ are responsible for our position in the spiritual winds, worldly currents and personal drift of FAITH! Hebrews 11:1-2

Thoughts about Life

I am excited; it is nearly thirteen years since we stopped ministering in the Connecticut prisons. Tomorrow at 9:30 we will begin again, the LORD has reopened the door for our church to share the gospel in these institutions once again. I know that for some of the new folks who will be going in that there are some fears, but it matters not what we do in life or of the ministries we involve ourselves in, fear is a common factor in the beginning. What matters is that, if God is in what we are doing there will be victory. Yes, we anticipate hardship and occasional disappointment, but we do not anticipate defeat. So today we are looking to those of you who read the devotional to pray with us that as this first door opens that other doors with follow. There is a lot of uncertainty as we step into this darkened part of a world which most of us do not see. However, as we have experienced in the past, faith needs exercise and this sort of ministry will provide that. We will be teaching from the Firm Foundation material of New Tribes Missions, the subject of the lesson is; Secure in Christ. More to follow I am sure.

Ecclesiastes 7

Verse 23 – Do we have trouble with learning something? I know that I do and the thing is that there is always someone trying to teach us something they seem to know a great deal about. There are even times when I want to know something and I will search out someone who knows, this is an ongoing condition of the mind of mankind to teach and to learn. But it is not something we really know how to do, but guess what… Solomon explains how to, watch.

Solomon says that he has proved his explanation of vanity and chasing after the wind by wisdom. What sort of wisdom is that; Solomon? It is the wisdom of testing. We hear lots of information in life; even more than what was available to Solomon in his day. Just what do you think would happen if you tested what you heard as he did? So the major difference between the wise and the unwise is that the wise person will test what he or she learns. Sort of like the child who is told that the stove is hot… don’t touch it! Then when they do touch the stove… they know it, simply to teach the same message to another, later in life.

Here is another thought. What is the understanding of SIN, do we really have an understanding of what God calls sin. This is what I believe Solomon is saying. I applied my heart to understand and to search out wisdom and the reason of the things in life. To know wickedness, folly, foolishness and madness; why did you do this Solomon? So that he could enjoy those pleasures and SIN. Some would argue yes, well there is pleasure and if you have tested these waters you know it. Now speaking from a man’s point of view… read his answer in verse 26. More later.