The Devotional - A Look at the Book #795

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

 

Many people spend their lives window shopping; shopping for that church that suits their pleasure. Little do they consider that this is a life threatening expense that is already paid in full and found only in the Church of Jesus Christ where John 3:16 is taught and believed.

 

Good Morning

 

I was thinking of some of my experiences on submarines and I remember this reoccurring event. Certainly I have mentioned it before but when I rewrite something I have noticed that a few interesting things pop up that were not in the first writing. First let me say that submarines have all of the necessities of life.

 

Fresh water to drink, to cook with, to bathe, to clean and even to wash one’s clothing; also these vessels of the deep have air to breath with just the right oxygen content of eighteen to twenty one percent by volume. There is little pollution to deal with because all of the air is filtered constantly being recycled many times throughout the day.

 

Every man is responsible for keeping his clothing clean and on a weekly basis I would wash, dry and fold all of my soiled clothing. Unlike most I especially liked laundry day, it was a time of about two hours when I could sit quietly and read my bible and pray for the men on board. The moments spent reading and praying was always productive in the cleaning of my clothes.

 

The LORD was faithful too; in the cleansing of the hearts of the men that God would send my way. More people accepted the LORD Jesus during this time on board than at any other time. Of course the sailors would come by to place their name on the availability list, or to slip in if someone had missed their turn. When they saw me reading my Bible the moment was prepared.

 

This was the perfect opportunity, God at work cleansing the hearts of men and me cleaning my clothing for another week. This was a combination of team work with the LORD cleansing the hearts of my shipmates and me cleaning my clothing. Humanly this still baffles my mind today. But this I know; my thoughts are not God thoughts and neither are my ways like His ways as Isaiah relates in Isaiah 55:6-13; John 13:31-35 and John 14:1-31.

 

These moments with the LORD in the laundry room of a submarine are not a religion this is the outworking of a relationship with the Living God through His Holy Spirit who always guides us into all Truth and the moments when this Truth can be most effective to reach the lives of those who need. 2 Timothy 4:1-4