The Devotional - A Look at the Book #757

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A look at the Book #757

A Word from Papa “J”

Have you ever forgotten where you placed your glasses? That is of course if you wear glasses; sunglasses are especially easy to lose; most times these are found on the top of the head. The Word of God is usually close at hand, but in the heat of any needed moment, misplaced too. Head knowledge of Proverbs 3:1-2 is no good, put His Word in your heart.

Good Morning

Have you thumped on a watermelon or pushed on the end of a cantaloupe for ripeness and freshness. Some folks spend several minutes thumping, pressing and inspecting a piece of fruit. Finally when found the perfect one is placed in the basket and off they go. By the time a dozen or so customers do this; all of the unripe fruit feel ripe and the whole lot is sold without a struggle. By the way, I hope you wash off your purchased fruit before eating it! (No extra charge for this warning).

There is a lot on talk these days about apostasy in the churches: One of the methods current today is to reinvent Christianity and running close on the heels of this is a pastor’s ability to compromise Truth. The church of Jesus Christ is being thumped and pushed by every human thought, every technological tool and every worldly expression known to mankind at this present time in the churches < 2,000 year history.

In other words the Church of Jesus Christ, especially here in the United States of America is ripe for every kind of false teaching and this nonsense is showing up in contemporary Christian music. Also café type churches where one can have a bagel and cream cheese with coffee while listening to a watered down Sermon on the Mount. I am not light hearted about this; in fact the knowledge of this brings tears of sadness and grief to my heart.

Can anyone tell me that while spreading the cream cheese that one can take notes or read a bit of scripture? You may well say that neither of the above is necessary for lay people, well guess what? There is no such term used in the Holy Word of God as lay people; God’s children are disciples and saints who study the Word of God, just like those in Berea, Acts 17:10-15.

Jesus Christ is the Vine and His Father is the Vinedresser. If a so-called Christian is not abiding in Christ in accordance with Biblical mandates and doctrinal guidelines, then that so-called Christian is not being protected as John 15:1-8 describes. In other words; it is Jesus Christ and His Father who test the fruit of the vine; who presses and lifts up to prune our walk in faith. A reformed church cannot do what Jesus has already done. John 12:32.

The sweetest Name I know is Jesus, like the song we seldom hear today. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; There’s just something about that name! Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim; kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that NAME”.