The Devotional - A Look at the Book #623

by Jesse Abel

Papa “J” May Say

The beauty of Mount Rushmore and the decay of the American Way; a vision of man’s capability. A Full Moon and the Reflection of Light in a straight line over the water. A vision of God’s Perfect Plan.

Thoughts about Life

Every other month for over a year now I have had the privilege each time to present a gospel message to some one hundred fifty men, women and children in a rescue mission. If you have ever been in one of these places on either side of the pulpit you will understand the difference between joy and despair. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, if you are saved and know it; then you have only one godly mission and that is to show to all people groups you meet; the joy of the LORD. THE ONLY people on this earth who can produce JOY are people who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God as the Holy Bible teaches; these are persons who personally know the Creator God who is JESUS CHRIST. We rapidly read through passages of scripture that teach us about the Joy of the LORD, those like John 15:9-17 and John 17:6-19 and if we do not apply these truths to our very own heart, how will we ever accomplish the task of sharing that application to another who is hearing our words. The pure heart of any disciple of God is filled with joy and love, enough of which, when applied to the listening ear will give hope to those in despair.

Ecclesiastes 8

Verses 2 – The growing number of people going to counseling is now of epidemic proportion, just as the number of people who do not go to counseling are addicts to alcohol and drugs. They hide in these temporal places of comfort as one hides in a cave like the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5). The preacher (Solomon) says this; keep civil law for the sake of your promise to God. What?

Sort of looks as if Solomon has shifted or altered his course on this ocean of life under the sun, but that would be wrong to approach these passages in that light. What is it that causes mankind to react wildly to civil law and consciousness of God? Romans 1 counsels mankind about this very thing and in the summary of Romans 1:28-32 the apostle Paul clearly states among all the production of evil that mankind is faced with; these words are included… disobedience to parents.

Mankind rejects parental authority and thereby rejects the common laws of the land and the promise of accountability that all God conscious people make around the age of five through eight. This leaves mankind with only one avenue to proceed in life, the avenue of evil, resulting in sin. I hope you find this interesting since God has clearly condemned all of creation… including you to this one path of life under the sun. There is hope: John 3:1-21.