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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #881

by Jesse Abel

 
Thoughts from Papa “J”
 
Like it or not; heaven and hell are two existing places and most people today have no fear of going to either place. Why is that? One reason that stands out! Apostasy is rampant today not only in this land, but all across the world! 1 Timothy 4:1-5
 
Good Morning
 
2 Corinthians 4:7-15 – One of the gospel hymns of Ernie Ford that I remember was titled “Farther along”. The chorus reads; Farther along we’ll know all about it, Farther along we’ll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, we’ll understand it all by and by.
 
It is true that some of the things that happen in our lives cause thoughts of, “why LORD?” Why has this come into my life? Truly we do not need to open up our box of reminders and there is little room for another woe to be placed there. Yet the apostle Paul clearly gives us understanding that in this life, suffering is common to all.

As believers or I prefer saints; we have a treasure in our earthly vessel that the apostle refers to in an earlier epistle in 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 which is the Holy Spirit, the excellent power of God that is victorious over the crushing circumstances of the world. The mindless persecution and the negative thoughts of others that strike us down are also in the truth of Romans 8:18-30. Don’t just say “Oh yeah” Romans 8:28. No read the whole context.
 
The events of suffering for every person in this world are overwhelming and like the world we are confronted daily with life and death. But as a believer in Jesus we always have with us, the Spirit of God who reminds us of the Death of Jesus in every instance of suffering in order that we might look beyond His death to the Life of Jesus. You know the hymn. “He lives” Without the Spirit of God we would not have this HOPE and we would react as the world does, HOPELESS!
 
This excellent power of God then which turns death into life (or suffering into victory) is of faith. It is the outworking of this truth that gives people of faith an ability to speak in ways that the world does not understand. For the most part if you are a saint for very long, you understand this suffering and speak of this victory first hand. Grace that causes THANKSGIVING and abounds to the Glory of God.

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