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.