The Devotional – 1428 – Open your mind, and then your eyes!

The Devotional – 1428 – Open your mind, and then your eyes!

Proverbs 28:14 – Happy is the man (person) who is always reverent, but he (or she) who hardens (the) heart will fall into calamity.

 

 Comments and challenges

As children we adapt many of family ties as these are the bonds of who we are. One such family tie is our delivery of speaking to one another. As a child in my family it was common for us to ask mom for a piece of “butter bread” or a piece of “peanut butter bread”! I remember trying to bring those statements into my early adulthood. Once on one of the ships I was on I said to a shipmate. “How is that peanut butter bread”? “What”? I said; “is the peanut butter bread fresh”? My shipmate was thinking that I was speaking a foreign language and to him… I was.

Of course by now you have figured out that I was referring to a piece of bread with either butter or peanut butter on it; at least I hope you have because in my mind I still think that way some times and it is not so easy to adapt to a better way of thinking something through. Also, I feel that we all have this problem and that for people who are of an intellectual mind; this difficulty to relate is even harder to overcome. But it is not my way of communicating, nor is it that of anyone else that is of a major concern.

What is alarming though is our determined way of forcing a meaning of something on someone else when it really does not mean that at all. One of the best examples of what I am seeking to say can be found in scripture in the Gospel of Mark and those who interpreted these scriptures for you and I to read. Of course that translation I am referring to is the King James version. (Now I have been thinking through this for a few days so it is not as if I am having a brain storm). I truly enjoy words, I could play with them all day, and I love the way the interpretation of the story of blind Bartimaeus reads.

Mark 10: 46-47 – “and they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus Thou son of David, have mercy on me”. (We could spend the day just thinking and reacting to these few words).

Mark 10:49 – “And Jesus stood still (awesome), and commanded him to be called, and they called the blind man, saying “be of good comfort, rise; He has called thee!” and casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. (again what opportunity to spend time exploring these words).

Mark 10:51b-52 – The blind man said to Him, “LORD, that I might receive my sight”! And Jesus said to him, “go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole”. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus. (O the tears of joy that fill my soul at the thought of these simple but powerfully inspired words, by the way every word in the Holy Bible is inspired) So now we need to back up a bit and see another event in the Life of Jesus through the eyes of Mark.

Mark 8:22-26 - and he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up and said; “I see men as trees walking”. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house saying, neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

As for me, these two events in the lives of two men who were blind, give plenty of sight to seeking the full revelation of the love of God and of our Savior. Not with words that men put together, but with the “WORD” that only God has for “WORLD” the peoples and language groups of the world, in that; “what I may relate to someone can come across as a sharp stick in the eye, but to others a comforting pillow of hope in God our Creator.

The LORD God removes the “L” out of the WORLD and then He says; “For God so “L”OVED the WOR”L”D that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life, John 3:16. To God be the glory and to his children, or as someone who is reading but not yet His child; I encourage you to seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all that is available in the kingdom will be added to you. Matthew 6:25-34.

 

The Devotional – 1427 – Security, Temporal and Eternal

The Devotional – 1427 – Security, Temporal and Eternal

Psalm 91:5-6 – You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

 

 Comments and challenges

Lately I have thought about the condition of the world around us, I would suggest that we should not think too deeply on that subject since just the surface thoughts can be alarming. Let me retract the statement in part and reconstruct some interesting and needed observations and say that if our thoughts are filtered through the Living Word of God we will come away with “joy” rather than “fear”. In the Truth of God’s Word we see that there is no greater expression of fellowship than the joy experienced among believers when we filter it through that which we have and handled concerning the Word of Life, 1 John 1:1-4.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1 – my wife quotes verse 5 many times and it is a large blessing for me to observe how God ministers to her spiritual needs. It means that I can relax with her under the shadow of His care over us as He assists us to say our soul is at peace with God who is our fortress and refuge. He is our personal God and Savor and in Him we will trust.

Just the other day we were commenting on the number of state troopers in one local area and thought that these peace providing officers were looking for someone who might disrupt peace. We thought it is every day on the highways and byways of life how we no doubt cross the path of someone who might do harm given the right opportunity. “The peace of God pays attention to our thoughts and keeps our souls at peace” what a thought! Daily all around us in the world thousands upon thousands of people fall but God says to His saints, it shall not come near you.

The reason is that the saints of God have made the LORD their refuge and no evil shall befall them, nor shall any plague come near their dwelling place. Some can say “bosh” to that for whatever reason that filters in to their mind from a worldly input, but let them say it and be done with it. The outcome for those who trust in the LORD exceeds beyond measure the outcome of those who do not trust God. Even if we die, we do not die to ourselves we die too the LORD. Why?

Because we have set our love upon Him and He will deliver us and God also says; I will set them on high because they have known My Name. They will call upon Me and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will deliver them and honor them and with long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation.  God says that the length of days is a reward for those who receive the grace of God by faith.

Do you have peace with God as the world around you spins out of control? In Hebrews 11:6 the writer says this – But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to Him must believe that He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God rewards His children in many ways, protection from the world around us is just one; seek the LORD while He may be found and you will be full of joy when you meet Him.

The Devotional – 1426 – The LORD our Righteousness

The Devotional – 1426 – The LORD our Righteousness

Proverbs 24:12 – If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

 

 Comments and challenges

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

Surely we as believers in Jesus Christ who is our resurrected LORD and Savior; we know the statement of the apostle Paul here in 2 Corinthians is true. And truly we know that it is He who weighs the heart and considers what we do, will keep our soul and render a reward. God’s record and accounts are perfect. As our earthly house (tent) is destroyed we become more aware of a home (a building) not made with (human) hands.

A building made in eternity and for eternity; Jesus the Master Carpenter of Faith has entered Heaven first. He is the Author and Finisher of Faith, Hebrews 12:1-2 and for all of us who are Living in this Faith we have a sure hope, that one day soon, we will be with Him in Glory. Over the years as a believer in Jesus I have wondered about meeting up with Jesus in eternity and yes I have through the Cross and His saving grace received Him in time.

While listening to Dr. Jeremiah discuss the rewards that will be given to us in heaven at the “Bema Seat”, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 I was reminded by him that there is a far greater reward then those given at the judgment seat, one that we as believers have this very moment. Watch this! Genesis 15:1 – After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

While thinking on these thoughts I see that a little further in chapter 15 it is said that Abram believed in the LORD, and that the LORD accounted it (Abram’s belief) to him for righteousness. This same “righteousness” is given to all who believe in Jesus. Can you just imagine that for a moment? That if you are saved; you are saved to live in the Righteousness of the LORD Jesus and no longer need to live in your own. Wow!

I for one am so joyful about this, if there were the least inkling in my mind that I should stand at the bema seat of the LORD who is already my great reward (His Righteousness) in my own righteousness I would utterly melt with fear. Jesus is coming again, as many as received Him to them He gave the “authority” to become the children of God. John 1:12, do you not see that if we do not have the reward of His Righteousness in us, we do not have authority to be the children of God. Oh what a foretaste of Glory… His Righteousness!

The Devotional – 1425 – Be Attitude

The Devotional – 1425 – Be Attitude 

Proverbs 21:13 – Whoever stopped his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

 

 Comments and challenges

How often do people begin a conversation with another, only to find that the other person is not really paying attention? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…; Matthew 5:3-12.

The daily opportunities for believers in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God to provide a view of the kingdom of heaven to the world around them are endless. And I am sure this is what the apostle Peter gives counsel to here in 1 Peter 3:15 when he writes – But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts, and always give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

There are far too many times that I hear the saints of God say; “you know, just the other day I had an opportunity to help someone who was “poor in spirit” but I chose to move on because of this or that reason”. Today we are distracted believers in Jesus Christ. Opportunities are all around and as serious as I can be at this moment; Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit says to our spirit.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall (it) ((the poor, the mourning; etc.)) be seasoned?” the salt then is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by others” “you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house”. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:13-16.

A small story… there are recent events that brings me to these convictions. Those close to me are actively involved in living out Matthew 5:1-12 and then in my own personal walk with the LORD we are rehearsing for an Easter Presentation of “HE’S RISEN” in preparing for this event like most of us I am listening to the presentation on a CD, the music and the narration.

An every time I go through the entire disc in one sitting I come away thinking… “Christian… you are missing the boat!” Now it is not the songs and hymns in the presentation that grip my heart although these can move me as well, it is the narrations of the disciples of Jesus and the women whom He made whole. These members of the Body of Christ lived in awe in the power of His Presence. They had firsthand witness to everything He did.

The accounts of the “Gospel of Jesus Christ” from His Birth to His Resurrection in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not only truth for you and me to know but these are accounts that should daily remind His Church on earth today that… “The Kingdom of Heaven is at HAND”. We daily; should be so focused on being a “light” to the dark world around us that when the moment is passing, you hear those who see your good works glorifying your Father in heaven.

Folks these things do happen daily… we are eye witnesses of the world around us and of the death and resurrection of our Savor; we have the same testimony as that of His disciples and the apostle John confirms this in 1 John 1:1-4. Do not let the world and the demonic forces around you claim you as a, causality. 1 John 1:4 – And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

The Devotional – 1424 – Twisted

The Devotional – 1424 – Twisted

Proverbs 19:3 – The foolishness of a man “twists” his way, and his heart frets against the LORD.

 

 Comments and challenges

Sometimes I find myself longing for days gone by instead of pursuing one day at a time and being like the apostle Paul who says in Philippians 3:14 – I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling God in Christ Jesus. It seems to me that the days past were simpler when as a younger believer I was not surrounded by so much evidence of evil. This brings to mind of at least two battles that are raging in the universal church of God and the above verse in Proverbs helps me to identify the battles.

(1)     The way of many churches these days is nothing more than religious foolishness

(2)     Many saints of God are not walking in accord with the Holy Spirit, therefore they fret against the LORD

The New King James Version uses the word “twists” and the King James Version uses “perverteth” and the New International Version uses the word “folly” here in Proverbs 19:3, so I am beginning to feel the hairs on the back of my neck being called to attention. Bear with me a moment or two here. If we all use different interpretations of the Holy Bible will this cause any confusion?

Or, is one version better than the other? Should I become so rigid about my version over your version that I break away from fellowship and isolate myself from the congregation? Not every pastor/teacher knows that he is called both to pastor and teach the flock. In fact I know of some churches who call the music director the pastor of music or a counsellor the assistant pastor.

These we call churches and yes these are congregations, but these are definitions of the ecclesiastical framework of the modern day church, and yet these are NOT biblical definitions. Our churches today are “twisted” “perverted” or “folly” and many in the congregation have become dull of hearing and are presently “fretting against the LORD, that term “fretting” means “rage”. How does one rage against the “body of Christ”?

I must stop! I just heard that a friend and co-worker of Louise went to be with the LORD during the night and cannot continue at the present time…

The Devotional – 1423 – Faith or Fiction

The Devotional – 1423 – Faith or Fiction

Proverbs 17:1 – Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife.

 

 Comments and challenges

So many things in life are overlooked as unimportant, unrewarding or unworthy and yet the older I become there is this sense of missing the intended blessing. All events in life contain blessing and joy, the only prerequisite is that every event must be met with faith. Hebrews 12:2 – looking unto Jesus the author (originator) and finisher (made perfect) our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Better then is the dry morsel in lean moments of time then the sacrificial offerings of the wicked that cause division and strife among the saints of God. All too often I can be guilty of observing scripture by separating good from evil and I need to be reminded that this is an impossible task. Notice that in the Garden of Eden there were two trees that God planted. Genesis 2:9 – And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the Garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

I rely on the Book of Genesis as the anchor for living life; in fact I believe and have been taught that if you cannot understand faith in God from the Book of Genesis, then it will be difficult to understand faith and the sacrificial death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ. Mankind has always had a choice to live by faith under the Tree of Life, or to gut out his or her existence under the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and every event that mankind encounters is recorded in Genesis.

I am not saying that mankind can return to Eden in this life, he and she were tossed out of Eden and the place is guarded even to this day. Genesis 3:24 – So He (God) drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the Tree of Life. The kingdom of God was with mankind, but man chose to disobey God and God removed His presence and left man with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (A house full of feasting and strife)

It is the lean moments in time that point us to Jesus; to His Words that speak personally to you and me. That He is the Kingdom of Heaven at hand (nearby). John the baptizer is the herald that called out to the world (those under the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) saying “Repent (change your mind) for the kingdom of heaven (the Tree of Life) is at hand, Matthew 3:3. And Jesus Himself declares through the writing of the gospel of John the apostle that He is the true vine and that His Father is the vinedresser, John 15:1.

There is so much wisdom and knowledge in every WORD of the Holy Bible and truly as the apostle continues in his writing. Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name. John 20:30-31. Oh my friend, how I could spend the day just looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of Faith.

Have you not heard? Have you heard? The LORD is the Creator of the ends of the earth, He will not tire or grow weary, His understanding no one comprehends. He gives strength to the weary and His power to the weak. (those who dine on a dry morsel). A promise that you and I cannot afford to ignore, see Isaiah 40:28-31 in closing.

The Devotional – 1422 – Comrada

The Devotional – 1422 – Comrada

Proverbs 14:27 – The fear (reverence, or respect) of the LORD is a fountain of life, to avoid the snares of death.

 

 Comments and challenges

Twenty-nine years have passed since I walked off the gang plank of my last tour of duty on a submarine and it is twenty-seven years ago that I retired from the Navy. Honestly the time that has elapsed is like another life time in that it is not easy these days to recall the days of Navy life. Just this morning while checking the Groton Naval Base information site (for driving and weather conditions, I caught a glimpse of what appears to be a 688 class submarine, the type I was on before I retired.

 

My thoughts drifted back to moments and events; but it was not an easy drift as I found myself wading through other moments that did not fit. Moments like people I remembered who were on other boats I was on, or events that happened on other ships that were not even submarines. A 688 class submarine was a very unique vessel in the day, but today submarines are different. So I decided that because I am no longer qualified in applying a story to the right ship that it may be better if I just stop retelling the events of the past and stick to current things.

 

All said, this does not mean that I do not meet or talk with other retired submarine sailors of the past, there are several of these ole salts in our church and when we do talk there is a certain and close comrada, I like that word “comrada” as it means “chamber mate, a friend or close companion”. There is no other definition to define the men of a submarine and in thinking about this; it really matters little if the stories told overlap one another, hmmm!

 

When the world (unsaved people) look at the children of God they do not understand that we are “chamber mates, friends and close companions. Or that we even exceed the word of comrada; since we are spiritually and eternally bound together as brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus our LORD. 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

If you are not a submarine sailor, you can never know the blood and tears we have shed over one another and if you do not know Jesus Christ as the sacrificial LAMB of God who “has” removed the sin of the world through His Death and Resurrection then you cannot know the Blood and the Tears He personally shed for you. Now it is impossible for all of us to be submarine sailors, but with God “all things are possible” you can be a child of God, Matthew 19:23-26.

John 1:29 – The next day John (the baptizer) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “BEHOLD!” (LOOK) The Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the WORLD (unsaved people) Jesus Saves and I remember a barn of times gone by, the white on black shingles that read, “JESUS SAVES”.

Romans 10:9-10 – That if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. And again, I remember the days on submarines when men would come to me and we would share personal words that often led to the gospel of Jesus Christ and in many cases also led these men to a personal relationship with the LORD Jesus. Even so; “Come LORD Jesus” Revelation 22:20-21.

The Devotional – 1421 – Diligence

The Devotional – 1421 – Diligence

Proverbs 12:27 – The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting; but the substance of the diligent man is precious.

 

 Comments and challenges

I what to tell you of an event that happened recently. It is not my event but one that belongs to a man whom I trust as a good Bible teacher and expositor of the Living Word of God. His name is Dr. David Jeremiah. He and his wife were invited to a church prayer breakfast in which Dr. Jeremiah was to speak after the breakfast. The church was located in a little town in Alabama.

 

Before the breakfast began while introductions were going on the pastor of the church said, “I would like to introduce you to someone who can hardly wait to see you”. At that point Dr. Jeremiah was introduced to “Big Red” he was your typical “redneck” with long bright red hair tied into a ponytail that reached to midway down his back.

 

Big Red began with a hand shake and a hug and his story unfolded. “Not long ago, I was tired of livin, I’ve done just about everything a man can do to himself and my life was empty. I no longer felt the need to live. So I knew of a road with a sharp curve and a big oak tree just as the curve took a hard left. I figured that if I could get my car up to eighty miles an hour she would not be able to negotiate the curve and I would slam into the tree and all would be over.

 

At good distance from the curve I stopped my car and tuned my radio to the music I like and turned up the volume so loud that my brain would not be able to think. As I did this my radio began to have static and the station I liked to listen to would not come in. I shook my fist and cursed at the radio and then slammed my fist hard as I could on the radio and the next words I heard were your words Pastor Jeremiah; you were saying that God is not willing and any should perish but have eternal life.

 

Today I believe that I am standing here telling you this because the LORD Jesus Christ through your voice got my attention. I bowed my head in prayer right then and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

 

Why do some people seek relief from the circumstances and things of the world by committing suicide or other crimes against their soul? One quick answer is that Satan would have you believe that you are no better than an animal, but that is a lie… you are not an animal. For you to believe this, you would have to believe that you are a son or daughter of an animal and in your heart you know this is not true of your parents. Nor have you evolved from any form of intelligence that is inferior to these verses of scripture. Genesis 1:26-27.

 

Mankind has not drifted from this truth; he has been lead away from God by Satan, the one who destroys the peoples of every nation and people groups of the entire world – Isaiah 14:12-15. Satan does this by counterfeit; he takes what is a lie and makes it look real, look reasonable and look reliable. He accomplishes this by the five “I wills” of the verses of scripture we just read. “Imagine Satan at one point in eternity said to the angels of God; “I will be equal with God, then I will exalt my throne above God; I will be worshipped over God by the congregations of the world (you and me). I will control the angelic realm; Ephesians 6:25. To the congregation and the angelic realm I will be like the Most High.

 

Now you may be saying… How can this angel be so deceiving as to lead other angels from God and how can he lead the nations and people groups away from God too? I am glad you asked. Ezekiel 28:14-18. There are only three of these angels recorded and named in the entire Word of God and these are; Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer. Gabriel who is spoken of in Daniel 8 and 9 who gave Daniel the understanding of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; and in Luke who records the conversation of Mary with the Angel Gabriel concerning the virgin birth of her Son Jesus in Luke 1:19-26.

 

Then we have Michael, who is recorded as helping Daniel in chapter 10 of the book of Daniel, also in Jude 1:9 and Revelation 12:7. First these three angels in eternity stood in the presence of God, one of them fell from heaven because of SIN that was Lucifer, who it may be interesting to you that he is only mentioned once in scripture; in our passage in Isaiah 14:12; after that he is referred to as Satan or the devil. Let’s take a look at one of my favorite passages about Satan. Luke 10:18. When sin was found in him, he was shot out of heaven like a bolt of lightning.

 

In Hebrew the word for Lucifer is “Hey-lale” meaning “The morning star” while the word for Satan is: Satan pronounce “saw-taun” meaning arch enemy of good or ADVERSARY! From the day we are pro-created in our mother’s womb and delivered into this kingdom we are subjects to the ADVERSARY, songs like “Hey-lale” are written to worship the adversary, he presents himself as “light” and in doing so he has caused mankind to fall to SIN and commit SIN (crimes) against God, himself and others, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

 

 

So why would a man or woman commit a crime (SIN) against their own body, or the body of another and why would any person renounce God? Because they have embraced the enemy! Who would be foolish enough to hug or wrap their arms around an adversary? Those drunkards, those drug addicts, those pornographic producers and watchers, those abortionists and those who have had an abortion, those murderers, robbers, etc., etc., etc.!

 

2 Peter 3:9 – The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Go ahead now, be a “redneck” and confess with the mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, be saved from this wicked and perverse generation. Again, do not be a slothful person, be diligent and show yourself approved to God.

The Devotional – 1420 – Hatred verses Love

The Devotional – 1420 – Hatred verses Love

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up strife, but Love covers all sins.

 

 Comments and challenges

One thing that I have noticed over this past decade of storytelling is that the approach to each event takes me on a journey of those pleasant and funny or unpleasant and sad circumstances that develop in the course of a lifetime. Then of course is the courage or fool hearty nerve to put them into words for the reader. I am confident that when these devotionals are worthy to read that they will help all of us call to mind things of similar nature that happens to us daily.

Actually the events that I write about are serious, but I add a comical note or two because it is better in my thinking to stir up the humor of all moments in life while facing the reality that life for most of us in not humorous, unless we purposely go looking for it. Here is an example! If you have children who are grown up adults and if you were asked; “Do you love your children?” There would be no hesitation; “yes, I love my children, why just yesterday…ha, ha, ha”!

And yet almost immediately and even before you break eye contact with the one who asked the question, your mind will acknowledge to you that moment or moments in time when you wronged your child in some way or when they wronged you. If you are not careful, your eyes at that moment will betray your heart where bitterness or hurt may dwell and if you are like most, your eyes will shift away so the sorrow is unseen.

Last evening, my wife and I watched the movie; The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. For me the main characters are not Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy; but the Lion Aslan and the White Witch. In the mind of any story teller is the thought to present events that produce “good and evil” so for me the Lion is the Lamb, the Lamb of God who takes away the icy cold of the White Witch who is Satan, the murderer and deceiver of world that is cast into the bitter cold sin of hate.

The cold represents the hatred of Satan’s heart which is absent of love, while the warmth of the Lion represents the Sacrificial Love that restores Narnia to the original kingdom it once enjoyed before Adam sinned and the sons of Adam began to pro-create in that sin over all the earth. Now I know that the movie is a tale of fiction, but in the mind of C.S. Lewis when he wrote was this Truth. While reading the novel many years ago, I was first reminded of Romans 8:19-22 where the Apostle Paul explains that Creation itself eagerly waits for the revealing of the Sons of God.

While we do not see creation in real life this way and while we do not see the spiritual wickedness in high places (which is the war between God and Satan) we do see the LAMB, the Sacrifice of God who takes away SIN from Adam’s family, who restores LOVE to whoever calls upon the Name of the Lamb (Jesus) by faith in His sacrificial death and resurrection.

I would challenge each of us this morning to study Romans 5:12-21 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded too many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers a multitude of sin – and above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins… 1 Peter 4:8

The Devotional – 1419 – Myrrh, aloes and cinnamon

The Devotional – 1419 – Myrrh, aloes and cinnamon

Proverbs 7:14-15 – I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.

 

 Comments and challenges

When is the last time you traveled into a dead end street? If you are in an unfamiliar area of town, in another state or not paying attention to where you are going; dead end streets seem to be at every minor intersection. Yet I would like to say that when a person takes a street that leads to nowhere, that it is truly somewhere for someone. Recently a family made the national news for entering a neighborhood where they were not welcome and the outcome was sad. Life has not changed. Here in Proverbs 7 we can learn a stern warning from Solomon.

However, we are not prone to hear warnings, especially ones that cause us to say in our inner most being; I DON’T DO THAT! But just look at Solomon’s life, he did those things and now he is just seeking to appease God with good advice to his children and others who read the Bible, well I’ve not said this in a while, “BAH HUMBUG”! There is not a day in your life when the opportunity for a trip down a street is nearby. Danger knows it’s victims as it is written all over the victims face. “Diligently to seek your face and I have found you”!

Evil which is not sin is always prepared; evil is a comfortable place to be: “I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. (We could spend most of our time just explaining the intoxicating drugs associated in mixing these ingredients together). Yes a dead end street is a moment of delay for those who recognize the street for what it is, but it is a street of opportunity for those who are expecting you to arrive.

From the pulpits across this great land we do not hear such warnings; many church leaders are fearful of these warnings of Solomon about adultery and enticing words of the adulterer. (The words of the Preacher as he sometimes refers to himself as can turn people off). The adulterer need not be a woman; men are as prone to entice women as well. Evil is enticement and sin is choosing to be enticed. Once sin is conceived it brings forth death. Notice James 1:12 -18 – Blessed is the man (or woman) who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own (dead end street) desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Now one reason we may cringe when challenged to think about the evil that lurks around us all the day long can be found in 1 Corinthians 6. If you study 1 Corinthians you might note that there are at least sixty-four sins recorded by the Apostle Paul that this church is involved in. several of those sins are recorded here in this chapter and each of them are on the corner of a thoroughfare and a dead end street. I will not take the time to list each sin or record the verses for you to read; but if you have your Bible, take the moment and count the sins.

There are at least thirteen sins listed from verse one through verse ten; the apostle goes on to say that those caught up in these sins will lose their inheritance. A chilling thought that travels my mind at times is that I came from unbelieving to believing and like many of you; my testimony of an unbeliever is found in these verses. Praise God I now have another testimony given to me personally by God and that one is found in 1 Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified (set apart) but you were justified in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.

So the bottom line is – yes you may find yourself near or on a dead end street; but if you take the moment and look at the LORD Jesus and the Holy Spirit who is a partial down payment of your future inheritance you will see that; myrrh, aloes and cinnamon is a temporal moment in time that destroys not only your physical life but also the inheritance of a full eternal life. You will not lose salvation, but you will lose the fullness that is presently waiting for you.

The Devotional – 1418 – The Eyes of the LORD

The Devotional – 1418 – The Eyes of the LORD

Proverbs 5:21 – For the ways of man are before the LORD, and He ponders (observes) all his paths. (Then again Solomon says) Proverbs 16:2 – All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weights the spirits.

 

 Comments and challenges

Sometimes in the military there were occasions when we were tracking the enemy, looking for any clue that might reveal what those men in their vessels of defense or offense were up to. The surveillance technology of those days was not like that of these days but I can truly say that in both eras, spying on someone by any human effort will forever lack the watch care attributes that belong ONLY to God.

Man will never achieve “omnipresence”, nor will he achieve the other three attributes that add to the completeness of the Holy Character that God alone is. If you are unaware of these; they are omnipotence, omniscience and immutable. God is God. If you ever think on these attributes that separate GOD from man you might need to be careful since all of our ability to understand the Character of God resides in the intellect of who we are as sinful finite creatures.

Let me get back to our side of the fence here. It is normal for the human mind to spy out the what for and the why is it of others doing stuff. We spy… ALL THE TIME! Okay! I do not want to labor this along, paragraph by paragraph so let me sum up what is on my mind. We spy for covert reasons, like as to putting a shell of protection around us or to know something things in order to gain the upper hand.

God has other attributes of His Character that complete the Holiness of God and these are: Sovereignty, Love, Eternal Life, Righteousness, Justice and Truth. Because God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient and immutable; this makes the other attributes of God PURE AND HOLY. So God does not use His Character for negative purposes as His observations of His Creatures and Creation is simply a HOLY exercise of His LOVE.

Psalm 33:1-22 - Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth (Truth). He loves righteousness and justice (love, righteousness and justice); the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, (Sovereignty) and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth (Omnipotence). He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast (Immutable). The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. (Omniscience)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. (Omnipresent) From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, (Eternal) And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.

The Psalm above is laced over and again with God’s attributes. Take much time today to think about our God who watches out for our coming and going because His Mercy is new every morning and His Grace is sufficient for each day. Praise the LORD, oh my soul! Praise His Holy Name. Lamentations 3:23-25.