The Devotional - A Look at the Book #873

by Jesse Abel

 

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

It is amazing how we can be so like-minded in faith, joy and godliness but so different in life, liberty and happiness!

 

Good Morning

 

2 Corinthians 1:15-2:1 – We are accountable for our words, our deeds and our actions; again this is not new information to any of us. Yet when it comes to owning up to these works we tend to disconnect our self from that responsibility by blaming others. This accountability is to God and man. Acts 24:16

 

Where or what are we to do? Well, if we claim salvation by grace through faith then we have a plan, God’s plan and one that is always resting in the person of Jesus Christ. The plan is that we would express the grace of God through our faith in God. I confess that I do not always do that, in that my plans are sometimes selfish and bent on pleasing me.

 

Pleasing self is opposing God, one look at Jesus and His ministry to the people around Him reveals that His faith rested in His Father and so too should our faith rest in God who we claim as our Father. Jesus did not rely on faith in people, but He did marvel and comment on faith when He observed it in people. Matthew 8:10.

 

So I believe that the apostle Paul in our passage of 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 is saying this as well. That God provides his sons and daughters with comfort through suffering, sincerity and confidence in our relationships (both with God and man) through a working faith. The writer of Hebrews expresses this same thought with the idea of a faith/rest in Hebrews 4:1-8.

 

If we are not resting in the promise of faith in our position in Christ our yes and no response to these critical issues of living life will waver and be unstable. Even James the half-brother of Jesus expresses the same thought in James 1:2-8 as he explains how we are to profit spiritually through the trials of life in Christ. So here we have two or three writers expressing that our yes and our no responses to godliness should be taken serious that is assuming that you agree that faith rest is godliness in action.

 

No person is to have dominion over the faith of another and it is simple really in that if my yes and no is personal, I can destroy the faith of another. My yes and my no then should always be in godliness, for in godliness there is great gain because we are fellow workers in the joy of the LORD and by this our joy is standing in a strong and likeminded faith with others.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #872

by Jesse Abel

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

I don’t know how true it is and maybe it is because I am like the rest of us who use only seven percent of our brain power. Also I hear that smart people still have more than eighty percent of brain power sitting in reserve. No doubt we who have the Holy Spirit utilize His gifts in the same manner; we are not prudent, we are a wasteful generation. Proverbs 14:8-9

 

Good Morning

 

A friend and pastor used to say, “We are a needy people!” and it is true. It does not matter about your status in life: A butcher, a baker or a candle stick maker, we all have needs and when we think on the issues of needing we are prone to focus on the material items. We worry and fret and yet we read in the gospel of Matthew that God meets the needs of His Creation. Then the LORD speaks very plainly; if our Father meets the needs of creation, why do we expect that He would forget about our needs? But to seek first His Kingdom; Matthew 6:25-34

 

Our Father does not forget; if anything it is you and me who forget how direct God is when it comes to meeting the physical needs of all peoples, especially those of His household. Philippians 4:10-20. Now I have heard most of the arguments regarding the needs of the saints in that we are to focus on the spiritual needs rather than the physical needs of life in Christ, since the physical needs vary from person to person.

 

For me; I sort of look at this subject as the recipe for an “apple pie”. The recipe has a main ingredient “apples” now that is an eye-opener… who would have guessed? Although I have heard of a poor man’s apple pie made with saltine crackers instead of apples. Now if the recipe were only pie crust and apples, or pie crust and saltine crackers the pie would be sour or salty. Also needed is sugar, flour (not including the crust), lemon and maybe a raisin or two and sometimes white icing, all of which make for a good and tasty pie, even the one made with crackers.

 

Here is the point: The apostle begins in 2 Corinthians 1:8 with a familiar phrase of his; “for I do not want you to be ignorant brethren. His desire for us to know fully that life is full of trouble, trouble is a necessary part of the recipe and sometimes we seek to personally leave it out. Trouble is so demanding that it can demand of us, life itself. Being a part of the recipe makes us depend on (TRUST IN) God and not in our own ability or strength. Now I know you know that, but at a critical moment we tend to forget.

 

So there is the physical trouble that comes our way which is backed and funded by Satan’s fallen spiritual plan and he has complete understanding of his recipe to affect our physical existence. Then there is you and me who rely on our own ability to survive an evil attack. NO, NO, NO! The apostle Paul reminds us of a wonderful truth. Yes we may feel the sentenced death on us, but we are to stop trusting in our own efforts of survival and trust in God who raises the dead. Satan may have the funds to ruin your day, but Our God shall supply all our need according to His riches in glory. Philippians 4:19-20

 

You see; Satan has no glory in His recipe, he has no resource to obtain it! As we have been studying in Acts that when we are in trouble and when the church prays for us, even those who are thought to be doomed to die are released from the sentence of death by the power of supernatural deliverance, we only need to trust in the power of the resurrection. There is no greater power than the supernatural power that belongs to God; He shares it with us and this Glorifies God. Acts 12:5-20 God uses every resource available to personally meet our need.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #871

by Jesse Abel

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

The Holy Spirit stays within the Authority of His Office when He Speaks. John 16: 13-15. Isaiah explains in Isaiah 11:2 that His Official Authority includes wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, fear and delight. All of these attributes are available in-part to those who hold the office of the Gospel in their heart as TRUTH. Romans 8:23

 

Good Morning

 

In 2 Corinthians 1:5 we read; “for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ”. I think like you, now just what does this mean exactly and while there is only one interpretation, God allows for His Word to cover many applications and this is one of those verses that does just that; that in suffering there are many life events that qualify.

 

The suffering of Christ in His ministry on this earth was not just in His final day and His Death at Calvary. Many religions zero in on this event and religiously focus on the three to six hours of His passion. Now don’t get me wrong, there is not one human other than the God/man Jesus; the Messiah who could have endured this moment in time without personal sin. Isaiah 52:13-15; 53:1-12.

 

Also, which we seldom consider are the thirty plus years of His life. Walking about just as you and I do and taking in the conditions of the heart that people presented to Him each day. We only see what was recorded by His disciples, like when Jesus saw the unbelief of His half-brothers. The doubt from the lips of John the Baptizer and His disciple Thomas and so on.

 

What about His omniscience in that He knew the heart of everyone He came in contact with. Like the woman at the well, Mary Magdalene and His disciple Peter who would deny Him. He knew the love that His disciples had for Him, even the sinful hate of Judas who misunderstood Him; just as we understand the love and misunderstandings of people around us, but because He is God, He DID NOT SIN when these faltered, as we personally do so often when we hear words like; “don't take it personal I was only kidding!”

 

So there it is really. Christ’s suffering was complete from the moment He stepped into humanity until the moment He returned to Heaven HE SUFFERED the sin of people around Him, yet He Himself DID NOT sin. But this is what He did in sins place. He comforted, consoled and saved us sinners.

 

Now the excitement that comes to me in this is that in the next verse, verse 6 the apostle says that his hope for us is confident, as we will see as we study these things that we are called to be partakers of is the very same ministry, the ministry of comfort and salvation through suffering.

 

Paul's confidence is in this way in that if we are partakers of the sufferings of Christ then we are also to be partakers of comforting or consoling others. You see then NO ONE can comfort another, if the one providing comfort has not suffered in the same way that Jesus suffered such hostility against Himself. Hebrews 12:1-11. This form of discipline is to train us to resist sin, the sins of self and the sins of others. A discipline that can only be administered by God.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #870

by Jesse Abel

Thoughts from Papa “J”

People have been sticking things in their noses, lips, ears and tongues since time began. This is not the image that God intended for us people. His Plan is that we should be putting on the LORD Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to mar HIS IMAGE. Romans 13:14.

Good Morning

Someone asked me recently how it is that I can write most everyday about the events of life in Christ and my answer is that I find great peace and comfort in doing so. I have trouble and tribulation just as we all do. I cry over people who are ignorant of biblical truth and utilize the volumes of nonsense that the world teaches to inch their selfish ambitions through life and end up no further than the end of their (drive) way when their life is spent. Psalm 31:9-10

There are only two ways to draw close to the LORD; one is through prayer and the second is the study of His Living Word. Is it necessary to think about that statement? Yes it is! Every statement made by mankind is worthy of scrutiny, so when you put the words of man to the test you might find that there are additional thoughts or priorities to consider. One priority is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and one thought might be the desire to communicate with our Creator.

It has been a while since doing a book study and lately, even for my own spiritual growth I feel the necessity to study one of the epistles of the apostle Paul. I do not expect the study to be in depth, but it will be detailed enough to help us in areas of weakness… and we all have weaknesses. If you have said in your heart that you do not have any weaknesses then you have already proven to yourself that you DO since pride always reveals it’s self before destruction. Proverbs 16:18

Now if you have been around a church (a teaching church) then you already know about the apostle Paul and many of his companions. So I will not go into all of that; but of course if you are not in a church that teaches such spiritual and needed training. Please GO FIND ONE and learn of the Power of the Resurrection through the men of the Old and New Testaments. This is God’s desire for you. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8.

Well you may have guessed it? We will be in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians for the time being. Our world today is at unrest, even those of us who believe in the death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ may need a boast in the comfort of God, His promises and the assurance that God is on the Throne. He is God, He cannot be anywhere else than where He is; The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3. We fail to see God’s Plan because we fail to pray and communicate with God through His Word.

In nearly every epistle of Paul, his opening statement is; “Grace and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ” and I suppose we could take the time to search that out, yet I say to you that if you are interested in the grace of God and the peace that follows, search it out for yourself, then you will say like the apostle; “blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of ALL comfort. This is the joy of communicating with Him.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #869

by Jesse Abel

 

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

The rule of law is that there is an exception to every law. Some folks; being knowingly ignorant (egotistic and selfish) do not look for exceptions; they simply wipe their mouth and say… “I’ve done no wrong” these people, both men and women trod over their victims without thought of the consequence. Proverbs 30:20

 

Good Morning

 

I once knew a man of terror, a business man in his late fifties and in the two years of our connection I was witness to the departure of twenty six people under his employment (more than one a month).

 

Most of these people were fired and the other six simply quit work because they could not work under the conditions of his egotistical ambitions.

 

This person never bothered me and I truly believe that he feared God and knew that my Fear of God is of love and peace with Him. This man’s fear was more like that “knee knocker” Belshazzar of the Babylonian empire along with the Medes and Persians found in Daniel 5:1-6, anyway there is a point to all of this and here it is.

 

God intends for each of us to be at peace with Him. Truth is that He alone has made every provision for you and me to know His peace which goes beyond our capacity to understand. Say what? I said that the peace that God offers to each of us goes beyond our ability to understand it. Philippians 4:6-7

 

You may be saying; well if that is true and I want to believe you, then how can I know that God is interested in providing me peace when I do not have the ability to understand Him? That is a good question, but it is easily answered by Jesus Himself in the gospel of John, but before we get there take a moment and ask God for help.

 

On our smart phones, computers and tablets we find that with some difficulty we can use these devices without much guidence, but that we are just barely getting by. If we really want to use them effectively we must use the available “help” applications to fully be compatible with the device.

 

Jesus explains to His disciples in John 14:25-31 that He is going away. To these men this was devastating news; their peace of being with Him was taken away and replaced by fear. Jesus did leave and we all know this. After all it is part of the Truth that we believe and provides Salvation, yet we need HELP!

 

The gift of God to all who believe is the Holy Spirit who is the Helper who makes alive all of the words of Truth. The Holy Spirit is more than a “Help app” on some device that man has invented.

 

The Holy Spirit is God, the gift of God to all who believe in Him thus we have peace with Him, not because we understand His peace but because His gift to us is He Himself and He Himself reveals it. His guidance to that knowledge is fulfilled in Him alone. To seek some other method to understand anything of God is foolish and falls short. Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:5

 

Now if you do not look at the scripture then you are not looking to the “HELPER” and while you may believe it, your belief has no power to go beyond the surpassing truth that God provides and you will miss the blessing; at least read 2 Corinthians 5:5

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #868

 

by Jesse Abel

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

The American Way of cash flow (We the people drive a financed or rented vehicle, on roads and highways that are taxed and bond assessed. Usually we are on the way to the gasoline station to purchase more fuel with our credit cards. Much of that fuel is expended going to the furniture outlet where we purchase on credit; stuff to fill our mortgaged houses) goes to government spending. Proverbs 22:6-7 as a way of life.

 

Good Morning

 

Soap box derby? Have you ever thought about driving one of those cars as a young boy or girl? When my dad returned from the war he promised that he would build me one of those cars to race in. There in our yard he placed two wooden horses and built what looked like a long wooden casket with a pointed front. That box sat on those props for several years without wheels it could go nowhere.

 

I am sure that my dad meant well, but he was tormented from the war, post dramatic stress syndrome had eaten a non-repairable hole in his mind and he became one hundred percent mentally confused about life and how to live and love. It has taken me at least fifty of my over seventy years to even consider that my dad meant no harm since so many things would prove otherwise.

 

In Ecclesiastes 7:1 – Solomon writes: A good name is better than a precious ointment and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. This statement of Solomon is absolutely practical since the living must endure to consequences of those who laugh at wrong and get violently angry at right.

 

You may not understand what I am seeking to say, but that is okay since this is more of a self-help search of parental love than communicating something out of Philippians 2:1-4 as I first intended to connect with Ecclesiastes 7. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, then to hear the song of fools. Yet I know that I am not alone in this, since many men and women feel abandoned by parents.

 

Well here is the rub! I am not looking for shiny shoes, sympathy or any of the “S” words found in the dictionary between the two. Yet I am searching (found outside of that “S” box) to understand Solomon when he says it is better to go to the house of mourning, then to the house of feasting. I suppose that as we live past those who die, it is the time after for us living to understand those who are gone.

 

Like when we leave the house of mourning and move on; wisdom follows us to the next event in time teaching us that the house of feasting is foolishness in action and in that house we have no choice but to live like the fool. This causes harsh and emotional thoughts in the mind that are strongholds of the devil.

 

Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with every temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #867

by Jesse Abel

 

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is where I spend much of my time reading. Then occasionally I run to Psalms or Lamentations. If you feel that there is something missing in your daily communication with God, then find some portion in His Word that speaks to you and you will find that it is God who speaks through the writer or prophet and he is faithful to comfort.

 

Good Morning

 

I remember once as a young boy of leaving the movie theater. I was there with my cousins and of course their home was only part way to my home and by the time it came for our paths to separate we had turned our moment into a frenzy of fear. The fear was as a result of the movie Frankenstein.

 

Once my cousins were out of sight, lightning struck under my feet and I was running for all it was worth for my home another two blocks away. I decided to take (what I thought) was a short cut. The side walk where I was running had a hedge about three feet high and my mind said… “Boy! you can jump that hedge and save a couple of minutes”.

 

There I was airborne, reaching the height of the hedge when my black and white high top tennis shoe toe caught the thin wire running through the top of the hedge and like one diving into a pool I went face first into the grassy lawn on the other side of the hedge.All the change in my pocket spilled out. It was like falling off the fiscal cliff!!!

 

Are there any thinkers out there, or are the educated so heavy minded that the frenzy of staying within the simple building blocks of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are challenged with visions of “frankensteins” chasing them? I think it is time that the adult population of the United States of America, GREW UP!

 

You might think that I am angry or a bit bent, well maybe just a little. We seem to think that a commercial with “a pig” sitting in an airplane using his smart phone has more sense to talk nonsense to the flight attendant about paying an auto insurance bill then an adult and this coming from a company who claims it supports Government Employees. What?

 

We are children in adult clothes, our bodies look like an overstuffed pillow in its finest hour. We speak volumes of nonsense to one another and then we allow the liberal media to explain to us what is being said and sadly, before we have time to digest the words another commercial says.

 

“Folks, you may have high cholesterol so take this pill. The side effects will kill you but at least your blood will flow smoothly. We who manufacture the pill will take money from you or the pig on the plane so we can live happily at your expense!” Yep! Its BAH HUMBUG time again.

 

I believe the apostle Paul has something to say about this in his first epistle to the Corinthian church. You see I believe that the condition of our nation is not because of our ability to reason things out as adults (although it is a sign of the times) but because we are spiritually EMPTY of God’s love.

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 is not about love and marriage as some religions believe, but it is all about living and maturing in the Love of God. Have you noticed what the apostle says about being a child in verse eleven? For me! I have a simple thought, must be because I have a simple mind! If when I become an adult and I have little to no conciseness of the existence of God’s love. Then how can I put away childish notions or “cartoon characters” I cannot! Simply because these are the only things I understand. Now you can have a Happy New Year! Or return to God’s love and have a blessed new year.