A Look at the Book #286

The Devotional



What Does Papa “J” have to Say?



The table of wisdom has many search-able solutions to a good life, but the complainer does not seek wisdom and when disciplined will bite and scratch like the hatred of a caged cat. Even the just man can fail, but when instructed you've gained a friend. Proverbs 9:7-9



What does David Brainerd; William Carey; Adoniram Judson; Robert Murray McCheyne; David Livingstone; Hudson Taylor; Mary Slessor; Jonathan Goforth; Charles Thomas Studd; Amy Carmichael; Eric Liddell; Jack Wyrtzen; Sophie Muller; Jim Elliot; Nate Saint; Ed McCully; Roger Youderian; Pete Flemming; Elisabeth Elliot; Rachel Saint and Chet Bitterman have in common. These are but a few men and women who willingly surrendered their lives for the gospel of God. Some suffered greatly for the gospel, some surrendered their lives for the gospel as martyrs, but all spent their lives surrendered to the upward call of God in Christ the LORD. It is the love of God that compels us to follow Jesus. If One died for all and He did, then we who are alive should live no longer for self but for Him who died and rose again. This is the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:12-21. All of these people and many more who lived by faith, also died by the faith that the apostle Paul shares with His readers in Romans 1:16-17. We should really search our soul in these days of Christian apathy and ask our self where we are on the scale of faith in God. We seem to have plenty of faith to live, but little faith to die. Now would that be for Christ or for self?



The Gospel of John



John 19:17-24 There a few words to describe the events of nearly two thousand years ago. No one can give an eye witness account. There are no pictures, no videos and no instant replays for the umpires or referees to judge the questions that arise in our heart. We read that He bearing His cross went... and in many minds the thought of God sending His Son to such a death is way out from human thinking.



The truth is that this event does not need an instant replay, nor a judge to set the record as true or false. All that is needed is FAITH a faith that comes from God Himself and given to those who believe. It is the same faith that has been around since the dawn of the history of God and man. Hebrews 11:4-7. A faith that is handed down from generation to generation, not by the works of man, but by the promise of God. His Hand of Faith is extended to you, have you accepted it?



There will always be those who divide His garments of Righteousness for selfish purposes and there will always be those who gamble with the Truth. Also there will be those who are called by God, these are the JUST and these are the one who are said to be living by faith. The same faith found in the life of Christ. The suffering, the Praise and the Posterity of Messiah is in His death and resurrection. Psalm 22:1-31. There is a greatness about the sacrifice of Christ that we often overlook. This greatness is God's Grace working through Faith. Hebrews 9:16-28.