A Devotional Look at the Book #494

A Devotional Look at the Book #494

by Jesse Abel

Daily Devotional – A Look at the Book #494

A Thought for today by Papa “J”

Wisdom on earth can never overcome the Wisdom of God and collectively all of the wisdoms of the world contained in one entity faint at the revealed Wisdom of God. So why not simply trust Him individually and learn His revealed Wisdom? 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

A DAY IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

There is the story of a little lady who was apparently bent over with age and arthritis. She often walked the streets near her house where she lived alone. Of course the streets took her to various places of need. You know the grocery, the bank and the post office. One day about a week before Christmas she was standing in a long line outside the post office. It was cold and windy and many of the line waiters were unaware of her, but one gentleman who was leaving the post office said; “Good morning, Martha, it is so cold here in line; why not go inside as I did and use the stamp machine to purchase your stamps?” “I know” said Martha, “but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis! I’ll wait thank you.” Loneliness can be very cruel to us humans, in fact; the animal kingdom does not experience loneliness apart from what we humans force on our pets. We obtain a dog or a cat for companionship then go off to work and play while these pets set at home and wait patiently for our return. Well, I did not start this to talk about lonely pets; but lonely people. In the midst of a congregation; there are lonely people. Ask the LORD to point them out to you, as I am sure He will; then come alongside. Matthew 25:34-40.

1 Peter

1 Peter 5:5 – Young people! As an older person I look at the world around me and I see many young people; there are very few who submit to their elders. Many have placed a bobble head in plain view of their parents and elderly acquaintances that nods ‘yes’ continually while the heart is beating out the unseen ‘no’. Be careful young people, as you stand a slippery slope… some of you will be lost to the ministry of suffering for Christ and it need not be that way.

1 Peter 5:6 – Just as your prideful youth resists the authority of your parents and elders, so also will God resist you if you continue on the path of rejecting to be humble. Let me ask you; you expect your elders, parents and teachers to show humility in dealing with your young needs; should you not also be submissive to this same humility in submissive behavior to authority? To be humble is to have the ability to destroy the power of pride, which is a first step of experiencing the grace of God.

We all desire or seek popularity of some degree; we like to be heard, followed or treated in some special way. If we do this by selfish force, only those who fear your selfishness will follow you. This would not a large following unless you are a person with the characteristics of Hitler. Humbleness then is the path for everyone who confesses to God that their selfishness and prideful desires are nothing more than sin. Then when the time is right, God will exalt you. There is nothing better than to be promoted into ministry by Christ Himself; what is our subject? Is it not; Suffering for Christ?