The Devotional - A Look at the Book #771

 

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Let me ask a question here; “does wisdom have a voice?” Easily we overlook that wisdom has a voice and as a reminder God the Holy Spirit reminds us to listen to the voice of wisdom. Is this important? Ever hear your parents say in the past; listen to me when I talk to you! Proverbs 8:5-9

Good Morning

All of the words of the Holy Bible are inspired of God and for you and me to believe this is more than the inaccurate faith that is found in the daily activities of the world around us. Worldly faith is frail and limited – one look in the mirror should prove that. Of course if one is proud and arrogant there will be nothing worthy of faith found in this character since it is biased and void of a good conscience.

In saying this however is not to imply that people of the world cannot be found faithful, such as; being faithful in marriage, at work and other projects like sports and religion. So partial faithfulness is as good as it gets for the average person living out the worldly expressions of faith. All of us have a faith and all of us can be found being faithful and faith; as frail and limited as it is has an object. Otherwise faith is not faith since the object is not always available or visible.

I thought I would take some time to go through the Epistle of Hebrews, but we will see how far it goes. I am starting with the first verse of chapter eleven. Hebrews 11:1 which along with the many subjects of interest found in this epistle is among the top themes.

The writer explains biblical faith in these few words; in the New King James version there are fifteen words; other translations use up to nineteen words, but the point I wish to make is that to understand biblical faith a person does not need a doctorate in theology, only the words found in Hebrews 11:1.

Worldly faith always has an object, in biblical faith; FAITH is the object. Notice Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the substance, or the evidence, or the realization, or assurance that the promise(s) of God is/are TRUSTWORTHY. In worldly faith we look at the object which is our evidence to have faith or be faithful and is based on our promise to be trustworthy.

In biblical faith we know that Jesus Christ is the evidence; God promised a redeemer, so then the entire world is challenged to look at the Him, 2 Peter 1:16-21 He becomes our confidence or hope. Biblical faith does not look at an immediate object like worldly faith, but at a past testimony about His Son, about His present intercessory ministry in heaven and the future promise of His soon return. Hebrews 1:1-4 (God the Father’s testimony of His Son); Galatians 2:16 KJV (my favorite); Philippians 3:3 (no confidence in fleshly faith) and 1 John 2:28 (realized faith in Jesus Christ).

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #770

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Some days I feel that it is time for a change, but I do not want to come across like some political figures who believe that change is a departure from TRUTH, INTEGRITY and HONOR. So to keep abreast of current events, I read daily from Proverbs things like – Proverbs 8:1-4

Good Morning

Just a reminder; as I mentioned a few days earlier my scheduling of things is somewhat out of balance, but all should return to normal after this Thursday. Also if you are wondering, my mom is recovering from her fall, but will need some rehab time. Thanks for your prayers.

Millions of people in the United States are gripped with loneliness and hunger; the heart reveals these conditions on the face and in the eyes of many people today. No doubt if one could assign a clinical cause for loneliness or hunger we could say that we are in the midst of an epidemic.

Of course; hunger and loneliness are not clinical, but the results of being one or the other promote illnesses; physical, spiritual and mental. Because of this link many folks are misinformed or mistreated for clinical ailments while the root of the problem is never addressed. When this happens the person develops physical, spiritual and mental events that become chronic, or reoccurring.

So what is the purpose of me taking a look at these two faults that are very real and very present here in this fine country? If you read or watch the news and do not know that for every ten people, two of them are hungry. Or if you like to watch commercials, have you not noticed that four out of five are for prescription drugs related to depression, a major cause for loneliness? Then you most likely do not live in the United States.

It is not then that we are not aware of these two major failures of the American Way is it? But we do like our “mute” buttons; don’t we? We mute the television, our husbands, our wives and our children. I call this – “knowingly ignorance” in other words, I know this is going on around me and in many cases, right in my own home or neighborhood; but I am just going to wait it out until it goes away.

The people of this United States of America have become complacent and in this storm of complacency the run off is like that of a flash flood. So many possessions are washed away; our economy, our freedom, our land of milk and honey, our fathers and our mothers leaving our children to stand alone.

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding: and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; So your poverty will come like a prowler, and your want like an armed man”. Proverbs 24:30-34.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #769

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

It amazes me and surely the same amazement strikes you as well, how a person of a scornful nature receives in return the very same plate of scorn that they dish out. It likewise amazes me that this inheritance is not recognized because of selfish ignorance, the reward of the fool and the reward of the wise come from the hand of Almighty God. El Shaddai. Proverbs 3:34-35

Good Morning

There is something about being a part of something that makes us unique, for example; a person who is a blacksmith is identified with making horseshoes and other related objects of metal or cobbler, as one who makes human shoes or repairs them.

While the blacksmith will never be a horseshoe, nor the cobbler never becomes a repaired shoe (thank God for that) these tradesmen are identified by who they are simply by the popularity of their trades. Also, notice that a military person is identified by his or her clothing, military jargon and other traits acquired by being in the military, yet they themselves are not the military, but like all three of these different walks in life they do identify with what they do.

Here is the rub! Out of the crowd can someone identify you as one who is related personally to Jesus Christ? Or do you keep them in the dark, even guessing about who you are or what you are up too? Believers in Jesus Christ are very good at disguising their relationship with Him and often the opportunity of bringing Jesus into the moment is lost by the moments beforehand.

We should notice something in Matthew 5:13-16 – Let your light shine before the people around you in order that they may observe your good works (beforehand) and glorify God. If folks are not seeing God working through you, it is not because they are blind, even though they are spiritually blind, but it is because you have lost the SALT which is able to reveal the LIGHT.

Jesus explains this in another way in the gospel of John 10: 25-30 as in the works that He does bear witness that He is with the Father and the Father is with Him. Now we are not gods, but we are identified with God through the blood of Jesus Christ and if this is true and it is; why then do we seek to hide behind the mask of confusion.

Verses of scripture that help you and us to be more like Christ in our daily walk should be placed in our soul so that we become readily identified. Not as a blacksmith or a cobbler, or even as a military person. We can and will always be identified in the world as a tradesman of some kind, but we are not always identified with Christ and His sufferings for the LOST sheep! But remember the Lord is long suffering too! 1 Peter 3:1-9, remember too Romans 13:14

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #768

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

People assume that God curses the individual who lives in a house of wickedness; but it would be good to remember that a house is merely a covering like a tent or even a temple for the soul that belongs to God. Remove your foot from the evil tent and your footprint will be blessed! Proverbs 3:32

Good Morning

Over the next four days I may be a little late or even miss a devotional because of an early morning schedule, please just bear with me in this. Over all it is a good thing and no doubt a story or two will come from it.

I like to see God at work in the lives of people; so many of us go through life with the feeling of having to gut it out and miss the blessing of looking to God for His path, which is always prepared for us beforehand. You do know what I mean don’t you?

Yesterday my wife and I was on our way to Norton, Massachusetts, this path just so happens to be the same path that we would take if we were on the way to my mother’s home in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Along the way to Norton I received a call from my youngest brother who explained that my mom was in the local hospital in Plymouth.

Some people would argue that this is just coincidence but let me just say this to those who reject the thought that God directs our paths. Do you have skill in living? In other words do the decisions you make always turn out to be exactly what you should be doing? If you are honest with yourself that answer will not be the lie you expect to tell. Allow God to teach you His paths. Proverbs 4:10-13; Psalm 119:143

Or, consider this; if you sign off on a piece of work with the words “by direction” it means that you have accomplished the task under the authority of another and the Book of Proverbs makes this comment. “The kings heart is in the hands of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1 even the kings of countries do and accomplish their tasks – by direction. Good kings know this; bad kings are simply FOOLS.

Well getting back to my mom, she is ninety and a few weeks ago she fell and after a second x-ray which was taken yesterday it was confirmed that she has a broken vertebrae in her back, she will be laid up for a while and if you think of it from time to time, please pray for her comfort and recovery.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #767

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Someone who claims to love you, yet seeks to control your every decision should not be followed. Perverse people can seem to be the picture of prosperity but weighed on the scale of Righteousness, they have NONE. Seek instead the counsel of God as He reveals uprightness to those who do. Proverbs 3:31-32 and Isaiah 55:6-7

Good Morning

Before going to submarines for the remainder of my career in the Navy I was stationed on the USS Gearing DD710. This was a reserve destroyer with a total complement of less than thirty USN sailors (Fulltime regular Navy people). To supplement and make a full crew and go to sea we would receive about one hundred USN-R sailors; Reservist who were on their annual two week tour of active duty.

During this tour of duty I met a host of people from all over the United States of America, men who love their country and served the Navy with pride. Well it would be naïve to think, believe or promote that all of these men without exception were “top notch” but most were and most would have (if needed) die for the freedoms that God has provided for this nation of ours.

It has been said in the past that the pen is mightier than the sword, but in our country today the drippings that find and fill the paper and news today are not for the love of God and country. Everything worthy of comment is overridden for the murderous, immoral and corrupted activity of one day of life in the United States.

Many of our military personnel are not even citizens of the United States and many cannot hold a decent fluent conversation in our language; this is a shame. Some may be saying at this moment that I am ready to unleash a myriad of comments about those in charge of this country and you are RIGHT. But my words are directed at you the everyday citizen of this United States of America as you and I are responsible, to deny this is to deny your birthright.

Our liberal approach to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has opened the door for today’s problems. Our economy is in a shambles because we have hired the very worst of professionals to do the very best scamming and thieving of our businesses, jobs and prosperities. We cry foul when so called “unions” demand and leach profits from corporations, yet we won’t go to work for companies that do not have a union.

Our readiness to put people in political authority without knowing who they are, or what they really represent is another expression of IGNORANCE. Over ninety percent of the Red Blooded American say; “I don’t have time for this since it interferes with my golf game or fishing expedition”. So along comes the minority who look for a free ride; this bus is full, if it were not full do you think for a moment that we would be concerned for our BORDERS WITH ALL THOSE ILLIGAL BOARDERS.

We the people have lost control of our economy, our freedom and our love of country because we have become complacent. Oh yes there are a few full time USC’S (United State Citizens), but most of us are USC-R’S reserve citizen’s; part timers that are not like those men of the Navy mentioned above. Most of these reserves were DOERS and not just HEARERS only like most of us today. James 1:21-17 and we do not ask God for help; James 4:1-6.

Our over indulgent citizens sacrifice to idols of worship that cannot hear, speak or respond to our critical ways of existence today and some even we say we have no God; yet these teach their children to kill one another in places we call educational institutions, yet these are nothing more than temples of learning the idolatrous the ways of the world. Jeremiah 5:1-31 parallels these comments of mine. Oh peoples of the United States… WAKE UP!

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #766

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A look at the Book #766

A Word from Papa “J”

Our Great God and Savior encourages pure thoughts about our neighbors; so devising evil toward them will not promote safety and produce harm. Harm in this case is not sudden and often shows up in the next generation when strife develops without a reasonable cause. Proverbs 3:29-30

Good Morning

One of the men who worked for me in the Navy was a drug addict. When we were in port he was seldom on time for anything, sometimes people would cover for him and at other times I would write him up for being AWOL (absent without leave). If we were at sea he was a good sailor, not the best but he was good at what he did. Now there is a lot of information that will be left out of this little event in our history of this man, but none the less you will get the point.

There is good and evil in all of us; sometimes with evil present, good will come of it. Drugs or chemical usage can be good or it can be evil. For example: Drugs and chemicals used properly are good even though these products can be evil when used improperly. By the way alcoholic beverages are, by self-description a chemical and even though legal are improper and can be abusive. The Holy Bible does not call this improper usage a disease. The Holy Bible calls this dissipation, and dissipation is a SIN. It is having a corrupt nature.

Now getting back to that sailor who worked for me many years ago; he owned a mobile home and lived in a little community near the Navy Base in Groton, Connecticut. I had gone to his mobile home on several occasions to wake him up and even bring him to the ship. It was Monday morning and so I stopped in on him because it had become routine for me to check and see if he needed help getting his day going.

I knocked and knocked, his car was in the carport but he never came and opened the door. I figured he must have left for work with another sailor who used to check on him from time to time. No, that was not the case; when I got to work and began my day, this guy was not there. At noon time I went back to his home. Nothing had changed and I used the neighbors phone and called the police and Navy Shore Patrol.

These authorities got into the mobile home and as the door opened the ready stench of death prevailed from the open door. Both the sailor and the girl he had been dating were in bed and DEAD, they had overdosed on some drug. The estimated time of their death was early Friday evening so their bodies without God's soul, had been there about three days.

Why am I sharing this with you today? For some distant relatives in Indiana and because life is short; life is not about the selfish and sinful abuses that so many people (young and old) get wrapped up in, in today’s world. When we reject God’s very best for us, (Jeremiah 29:11) we open the door for Satan’s very worst. He disguises everything he does to make it look appealing with one purpose in mind. TO MURDER THE ONE WHO FALLS A VICTIM FOR HIS SCHEMES. Notice please how Jesus explains this in John 10:7-18.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #765

by Jesse Abel

A Word from Papa “J”

Proverbs is all about the skill of living life under the sun. Do not be like one who withholds goodness from another; this is an evil power to rule over the emotions of a friend, loved one or even a neighbor. And do not make someone wait for a blessing as this is for them; when received a cursing. Proverbs 3:27-28

Good Morning

John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but (therefore) the wrath of God abides on Him.

From the fall of Adam to this very day and until Christ returns the wrath of God abides. John 3:36 is written in a present tense which was active from creation and is as active today as it was when the apostle John wrote, so that all of mankind is without excuse. Genesis 2:17 is the command given by God for mankind to reject tree of the knowledge of good and evil (the kingdom of life under the sun) and abide under the Tree of Life (The Kingdom of Life under the SON).

Man chose to disobey and so the wrath of God is IN place over all of creation. Genesis 2:8 through Genesis 3:1-24. To in ending this little study of what it means to be “born again, or born from above; or even regenerated”. MOST ASSUREDLY as Jesus explained to Nicodemus… YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! Salvation is to be removed from the wrath (curse) of God and to be JUSTIFIED by believing in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Now some may question why I have taken this opportunity to share just a little bit about Salvation Justification? I could just ignore your concern and move on (no harm, no foul) but I have been writing for several years and have seen God bless this ministry. At the present time there are between one and two thousand reader on one of the blogs, daily. I would like to think that all of these folks are believers in Jesus Christ, but I know they are not.

I also know that the most important message is not about me, but of Christ who died and rose again for me. Not only for me; but for all of those who call upon the name of the LORD in the context of “Salvation Justification” John 3:17. All of us have gone astray from God, we are like the lame man found in Acts 4 whom the apostles by the power and work of the Holy Spirit restored that man to a wholesome physical health and likewise to regeneration of his soul; Acts 3:26 and Acts 4:12.

All of us have the opportunity while living in our infirmities and iniquities to face up to this truth and be saved! Some will and many will not, but I do hope that if you are unsaved; that is not justified in Christ that you will repent (change your mind) and be… BORN AGAIN!